Colorado State University Athletics
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Tennis recap: CSU falls to Denver in spring season opener
1/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 29, 2011
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By Amanda Bader
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado State women's tennis team fell 7-0 to Denver late Saturday night at the Miramont South indoor courts.
In front of a program record crowd of 162 fans, the Rams (0-1, 0-0 Mountain West) were unable to produce a win in their spring-opening dual against the Pioneers (2-1, 0-0 Sun Belt).
"I would like to thank our fans for their support tonight," said Head Coach Jon Messick. "We doubled our previous attendance record and it's too bad that we couldn't show them a win tonight."
Despite a slow comeback late in the pro set, Caitlin Fluegge and Veronika Wojakowska were the first pair to be defeated by the Pioneers (8-3). Shortly following were Tori Arneson and Melissa Holzinger (8-4), which clinched Denver's first point in the team score.
After three matches of doubles play, the Pioneers swept the Rams, giving Denver a one-point advantage going into singles play.
Making her first appearance since early fall play, Holzinger returned from back soreness and fought valiantly during her doubles match. Unfortunately, Holzinger was unable to come back during singles play and was forced to take a scratch from her match.
The Rams saw little change after doubles play, falling in six more matches to the Pioneers.
In singles play, Arneson was the first to fall, against Denver's Elena Naiera-Salas. Lauren Mulhern then sustained a 6-1, 6-0, loss to Emma Isberg from the Pioneers. The Rams' third loss followed as Denver's Sophia Bergner defeated Fluegge, 6-4, 6-0, despite an early battle from the senior CSU captain.
With Denver already clinching a win after three singles matches, Wojakowska stretched her match to three sets, giving Colorado State hope of earning its first point in the dual. But after posting a 6-3 win in the first set, Wojakowska lost the next set, 6-0. Despite gaining two games in the third set, Wojakowska eventually fell, 6-2.
"I think we had a little first match jitters. We were playing well at practice up until this match," said Messick "Our game and focus wasn't as sharp as it needed to be against a good team like Denver."
Colorado State's newcomers, Kaley Schultz and Lauren Pick, drew the No. 5 and No. 6 singles assignments to close the night.
Schultz fell to Caroline Schnell in the final match of the night, 6-1, 6-2. Pick also fell to her Denver opponent, 6-2, 6-0, finalizing the Pioneers' win for the night.
After two weeks of practice, the Rams return to the courts Friday, Feb. 11 against South Dakota. The 6 p.m. competition will take place in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Saturday's Results:
Doubles
1. Rath/Bergner (DU) def. Wojakowska /Fluegge (CSU), 8-3
2. Isberg/Najera-Salas (DU) def. Mulhern/Schiltz (CSU), 8-5
3. Dunn/Schnel (DU) def. Arneson/Holzinger (CSU), 8-5
Singles
1. Sophia Bergner (DU) def. Caitlin Fluegge (CSU), 4-6, 0-6
2. Elena Najera-Salas (DU) def. Tori Arneson (CSU), 6-0, 6-1
3. Emma Isberg (DU) def. Lauren Mulhern (CSU), 6-1, 6-0
4. Emma Isberg (DU) def. Veronika Wojakowska (CSU), 6-3, 0-6, 2-6
5. Caroline Schnell (DU) def. Kaley Schultz (CSU), 6-1, 6-2
6. Steffi Rath (DU) def. Lauren Pick (CSU), 6-2, 6-0
