Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
CSU Invitational
Tennis recap: Rams experience competitive first day of CSU Invitational
9/24/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Sept. 24, 2011
By Amanda Bader
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- The Colorado State women's tennis team began fall play today at the University Tennis Complex as the Rams hosted the University of Northern Colorado for day one of the CSU Invitational.
Colorado State debut its 2011-12 roster dropping just two matches in the first two rounds and clinching two wins in the third against the Bears on day one of the tournament.
"It was a long day and we were out here for a long time playing a lot of matches than we usually play in a day, but i thought we were inconsistent," said Head Coach Jon Messick.
In round one of the singles flight, the Rams started off behind on all but one court, Natalie Heffron. Luckily, things quickly began to look up. Heffron was the first to turn things around for the Rams as she defeated Northern Colorado's Elizabeth Tapia, 6-2, 6-2.
Following Heffron's lead, Tori Arneson and Veronika Wojakowska forced tiebreakers in the first set, giving them the upper hand going into the second set. Veronika Wojakowska sacrificed just one game in the second set to defeat UNC's Taylor Schumacher, 7-6 (7), 6-1. Arneson dropped just two games in the second frame, securing her 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory.
Adriana Wojakowska and Lauren Mulhern were next, each forcing their matches into a third-set win. Adriana Wojakowska took after older sister Veronika and won her first set in a tie-breaking decision, but then dropped her second set only to make her final comeback in the third frame closing out the match, 7-6(4), 6-1, 7-5.
However, round two of singles was another story.
"I think we are fortunate to win five out of six singles matches in the first round but then the second round I think we lost some focus and a little energy," said Messick. "I definitely don't think we got the consistency that we needed in the second round."
The Rams maintained their momentum going into round one of doubles play, winning two of the three matches. Mulhern and Kaley Schultz were the first pair to clinch an 8-6 victory, followed by Arneson and Veronika Wojakowska's tie-breaking win, 9-8(8). Pick and Adriana Wojakowska played a competitive match but fell short, falling 9-7 against Northern Colorado.
"Doubles winning two out of three was a good result, but I think we struggled on all three courts," said Messick. "Our doubles combinations are kind of a work in progress right now but hopefully playing a couple rounds of doubles tomorrow we will be able to work some things out."
In the second round of singles play the Rams were starting to feel the burn that accompanies the first tournament of the season. Pick was first to finish for the day, dropping her match 7-5, 6-0. Mulhern trailed with her first loss of the day despite forcing the match to a third set, 2-6, 6-0, 6-1.
Heffron turned up the Rams spirits, defeating UNC's Jennifer Whateley, 7-5, 6-4. With the remaining three matches of the second round forced into third sets, Veronika Wojakowska was the next to finish. Unfortunately the extension wasn't enough to pull off a win, falling 1-6, 7-6, 6-0, to UNC's Stephanie Catlin.
Closing up the day for CSU was Arneson as she seized Colorado State's second win of the round, defeating her opponent 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Last to leave the court was Adriana Wojakowska, who left with a third-set loss, 7-6(11), 5-7, 2-6.
"There were times where I thought we played well and there were times that I thought that we didn't," said Messick. "One thing we need to get better at is consistency all the way through."
The Rams will return to the courts Sunday morning for day two of the CSU Invitational. The tournament will begin at 10 a.m. and will feature a final round of singles followed by two rounds of doubles. For more information and to get daily score updates, visit the live results page at CSURams.com.
Saturday's results:
Round 1 Singles: 10:00 am:
Green Flight:
Arneson (CSU) 7-6 (final)
Buchanan (UNC) 6 (4)-2
Mulhern (CSU) 3-6-6 (final)
Whateley (UNC) 6-4-3
Heffron (CSU) 6-6 (final)
Tapia (UNC) 2-2
Gold Flight:
V. Wojakowska (CSU) 7-6 (final)
Schumacher (UNC) 6 (7)-1
A. Wojakowska (CSU) 7-1-7 (final)
Hoolahan (UNC) 6(4)-6-5
Pick (CSU) 0-1
Catlin (UNC) 6-6 (final)
Round 1 Doubles: 1:00 pm:
Arneson/ V. Wojakowska (CSU) 9 (final)
Catlin/ Hoolahan (UNC) 8 (8)
Mulhern/ Schultz (CSU) 8 (final)
Nieto/ Buchanan (UNC) 6
Pick/ A. Wojakowska (CSU) 7
Whateley/ Tapia (UNC) 9 (final)
Round 2 Singles: 2:30 pm:
Green Flight:
Arneson (CSU) 6-4-6 (final)
Tapia (UNC) 3-6-4
Mulhern (CSU) 2-6-1
Buchanan (UNC) 6-0-6 (final)
Heffron (CSU) 7-6 (final)
Whateley (UNC) 5-4
Gold Flight:
V. Wojakowska (CSU) 6-6-0
Catlin (UNC) 1-7-6 (final)
A. Wojakowska (CSU) 6(11)-7-2
Nieto (UNC) 7-5-6 (final)
Pick (CSU) 5-0
Hoolahan (UNC) 7-6 (final)
