Colorado State University Athletics
Tennis recap: Rams open play at Air Force Invitational
9/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo - Colorado State senior Natalie Heffron led the Rams during the opening round of singles play on Friday at the Air Force Invitational.
In the singles alpha bracket CSU's No.1 Heffron defeated Alix Thurman from Miami-Ohio in three sets (4-6, 6-3, 6-1) to advance in the winner's bracket on Saturday. Rams also got to see junior transfer from Marquette Aina Hernandez Soler make her debut in the green and gold uniform, as she defeated her Northern Colorado opponent in three sets. After dropping the first, A. Hernandez Solar won the following two sets, and the match (2-6, 7-5, 6-2) allowing her to advance in the bracket.
Head Coach Jon Messick was pleased by the performance of the team, and Heffron's and Hernandez Soler's ability to fight back to win both of their singles matches.
Messick noted the Rams finished 4-6 in singles play but felt the team had competed throughout all the matches during the day.
"We went 4-6 in singles play, but I felt we played well," Messick said. "We are finding out our rotation. Considering we have a young group, we have to fix the holes and adjust. Both Natalie and Aina came back after losing the first sets. Natalie wasn't feeling good to start, but she fought her way through, and rounded out the match nicely. Seeing Aina for the first time was good, she showed us that she could fight back after getting down."
Doubles play was successful for Colorado State as they won four out of five matches and the first four pairs came away with victories in the one-set round.
Heffron and Adriana Wojakowska won, 8-6 (6) but needed the tiebreaker in order to hold on against Miami (Ohio). Juniors Mollie Cooper and A.Hernandez Soler defeated Wyoming's No. 2 group, 8-6. Rams' Maddie Buxton and Laia Hernandez Solar won easily, 8-3 in the fourth bracket against the pair from Air Force, while the Colorado State freshman and sophomore tandem of Rebecca Costa and Madison Porter defeated the No. 5 doubles from Arkansas State (8-3).
Messick noted that the team has shown improvement, and the youth of the team has not slowed them down.
"We won four out of five doubles matches and we put pieces together and with having a new group that isn't easy, but we were successful in doing it, Messick said. "It was impressive to watch the team play together and come out with the victories like they did."
Colorado State completed day one of the invitational at 4-6 in singles play, while going 4-5 in doubles matches.
The Rams will continue to participate in the USAFA Invitational at the Air Force Academy this weekend. Saturday will start at 9 a.m. MT with a round of doubles play, wrapping up with singles play starting around 10:30 a.m.