Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Air Force
Recap: CSU's comeback bid falls just short
4/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Colorado State was highly competitive against Air Force on Friday afternoon, but was unable to beat the visiting Falcons. Air Force won a dramatic doubles point and carried that momentum forward in a 5-2 win at the University Tennis Complex.
"We battled and it was really close," head coach Jarod Camerota said. "That was a great college tennis match. It'd be great to be on the winning side, but that's why you play and coach. Conference match, tiebreakers, third sets... I was proud of the team today. We fought hard."
The Rams' No. 1 tandem of Alyssa Grijalva and Emily Kolbow were the first to finish, winning 6-2. Air Force won on Court 2, 6-4, meaning the doubles point came down to the girls on Court 3. After holding a 3-2 lead early, CSU's Sandra Keta and Madison Porter fell behind 5-4 only to come back to tie the score at 5-5. The Rams then took a 6-5 lead and had two chances to win the match in the next game, but Air Force proved to be pesky and won the 12th game to knot the score at 6-6.
That brought the deciding match to a tiebreaker. Air Force took an early 4-1 lead before CSU won four consecutive points to hold a 5-4 advantage. There was little separation after that, however, with the teams being tied at 5-5, 6-6 and 7-7. CSU once again had an opportunity to win the match on the 16th point but Air Force won the point to tie the game at 8-8. The Falcons then used that momentum to win the next two points and win the exhilarating match, 7-6 (10-8).
"Just feeling what it's like, being under pressure with 100 fans watching you... It's good to be in those situations," Camerota said. "Even after losing at 10-8, the girls came out right away in singles and battled, and I thought that was a real positive."
In singles action, CSU's Keta and Celine Voss were victorious. Voss (No. 5) was the first Ram on the board, winning her match in dominant fashion (6-2, 6-2). The senior never trailed in her contest.
Air Force won at No. 2 and No. 6 to take a 3-1 lead, but CSU still had its chances. The Rams needed to win the three remaining matches. All three went to three sets, and at one point, CSU led in each of them.
Keta (No. 4) was the first of the trio to finish, winning the first and third sets by scores of 7-5. In the final frame, she led 5-3 before Air Force battled back to tie it at 5-5. The Falcons then led the 11th game 40-love, but Keta never gave up, stringing together five consecutive points to win the game. The freshman then won the next one to win the match (7-5, 0-6, 7-5).
Kolbow and her opponent at No. 1 singles were tied at 4-4 in the first set. Kolbow led during parts of the set before falling 6-4. She flipped the script in the second frame, though, winning 7-6 in comeback fashion. CSU trailed 5-6 before winning the final two games. In the third set, Kolbow led early before Air Force finished strong (6-2).
Freshman Riley Reeves battled to a first-set victory at No. 3 (7-6) and looked poised to win the match in straight sets. She led Set 2, 5-4, before Air Force took the final three games to knot the match up at 1-1. Air Force won the final set, 6-4.
At No. 2, Grijalva wasn't able to rebound from an early deficit, falling 6-1, 6-2. After a back-and-forth doubles match, Porter (No. 6) also was defeated in straight sets (6-4, 6-1).
The loss snaps CSU's three-match home winning streak. The Rams will close their home slate on Sunday vs. New Mexico (10 a.m. MT). Free breakfast burritos from Fuzzy's Taco Shop will be available to all fans. During the match, CSU will recognize its two seniors.
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Players Mentioned
