Preview: Rams close regular season against regional rivals

April 19, 2017

Preview #16 (PDF) / Roster / Schedule

Colorado State at Northern Colorado
Thursday, April 20 / 1 p.m. MT / Butler-Hancock Tennis Complex / Greeley, Colo.

Colorado State at Wyoming
Saturday, April 20 / 1 p.m. MT / Outdoor Tennis Complex / Laramie, Wyo.
Live Scoring

CSU CLOSES REGULAR SEASON AGAINST LOCAL FOES
Coming off of back-to-back home weekends, the Rams have a short week of practice. CSU will close the regular season this week by traveling to regional rivals Northern Colorado (Thursday) and Wyoming (Saturday).

CSU’s non-conference match at Northern Colorado will mark the 14th consecutive season the Rams and Bears have faced off. During that stretch, CSU is 11-2, including a 4-3 win last April in Fort Collins. In last year’s win, current Rams Emily Kolbow and Celine Voss won at both singles and doubles, while Madison Porter was victorious at No. 1 doubles. The Rams and Cowgirls have played every season since the Mountain West formed in 2000, including twice in 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2016. CSU is 12-9 against Wyoming during that span, winning 12 of 13 times between 2000-09, but losing eight in a row since 2010.

“We just have to keep competing and managing our emotions,” head coach Jarod Camerota said. “It’s two rivalry matches, both located within an hour of us. They’re going to come out and give us their best shot and we have to do the same thing.”

Following this week’s action, the Rams will turn their attention to the Mountain West Championship, which this year will be held April 27-30 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“We’ve made a lot of progress throughout the season, and we’re a very young team,” Camerota said. “That’s exciting for the future, but we still want to keep making more progress this year. We want to see how far we can go in the tournament. Every day, we’re trying to get better and encouraging the team to do extra on their own.”

SCOUTING THIS WEEK’S FOES

Northern Colorado comes into Thursday’s match with an 8-10 mark, including 6-4 at home. The Bears had won back-to-back Big Sky matches prior to Saturday’s loss to Southern Utah.
Both CSU and UNC have played Air Force and North Dakota. The Bears and Rams both lost to Air Force and defeated North Dakota.
Senior Courtney Schulte has a team-most 10 dual victories, coming at the No. 2 and 3 spots. She has won three consecutive matches.
Marissa Baca and Anna Battersby (UNC’s No. 1 and 2 singles players, respectively) parter in doubles and are 12-3 (No. 3).
Brenda Gallegos has been with UNC since 2002, and head coach of the Bears since 2004. She helped UNC advance to the Big Sky Conference Championship five times between 2008-14.
Wyoming is 16-3 on the year, including undefeated in Mountain West play (4-0). Its 16 wins are a program record and includes a 9-0 mark at home.
In dual play, the Cowgirls are 57-22 in singles (.722) and 36-10 in doubles (.783).
Junior Magdalena Stencel (8-4 at No. 1) and senior Dorottya Jonas (13-3 at No. 2) lead the Cowgirls.
Seven of Wyoming’s eight players are foreign.
Wyoming is in his fifth season coaching Wyoming, in addition to four years as an assistant and interim head coach.

LAST TIME OUT: RAMS SHOW PROMISE DESPITE LOSSES
Colorado State was unable to keep its winning streak going this past weekend, but still showed a lot to be excited about, despite the losses. The Rams lost to Air Force and New Mexico, but in both matches had the chance to win the match late in the contest. Additionally on Sunday, CSU recognized its two seniors: Madison Porter and Celine Voss.

“Having four freshmen and a sophomore, both Madison and Celine, they just set an example,” CSU head coach Jarod Camerota said. “They are on time, they are always working hard, they put in extra practice time and they are getting good grades. All those little things add up, and normally for freshman and sophomores, they don’t get right away. When the rest of the team sees what they do, they start to follow.”

Air Force 5, Colorado State 2
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).

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.

New Mexico 4, Colorado State 3
CSU struggled early in doubles action, but continued to be stalwart in the contests. The No. 1 pair of Emily Kolbow and Alyssa Grijalva fought back from down 3-1 to take a 4-3 lead. They would win two of the last three games to clinch the first doubles match at 6-4. The Rams tallied the doubles point when CSU’s No. 2 duo of Celine Voss and Riley Reeves closed out their opponent, 7-5. When the doubles point was clinched by CSU, the Rams’ No. 3 duo of Sandra Keta and Madison Porter were in a deadlocked match, tied 5-5.

New Mexico rebounded after the doubles point and took the first three singles matches. But excitement began to build at the University Tennis Complex when CSU won at No. 2 and No. 3 to knot the match at 3-3.

At No. 2, Grijalva won an exciting straight-sets victory (6-4, 7-5), which she closed by winning the final three games of Set 2. In the No. 3 matchup Reeves, after falling in the first set, rallied back to take Set 2 and a third-set tiebreaker (2-6, 6-1, 7-6). For Grijalva it was her 10th victory of the season, and for Reeves it was her 11th - both are freshmen.

CSU freshman Sandra Keta fell in the deciding contest of the day but played an incredible match. She won a first-set tiebreaker after playing a great return down the left side of the court to win the set (7-6 (10)). She fell in the second (6-2), forcing a deciding set with the entire match on the line. She fell behind 3-0 early, but with the support of her teammates closed the deficit to 5-3. In the eighth game, she was trailed 30-love but then forced a deuce point in which she scored on a ball that was hit long by New Mexico. Ultimately, the rally wasn’t enough, however, falling 6-4.

PORTER EARNS COMMUNITY SERVICE HONORS
Rams’ senior Madison Porter was named to the All-Mountain West Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Community Service Team. The conference, in an effort to recognize the accomplishments of student-athletes beyond the field of competition, named one athlete from each institution who goes above and beyond to help promote and participate in community service initiatives. Porter is also a three-time Academic All-Mountain West honoree and two-time Mountain West Scholar-Athlete.

STEEP COMPETITION
CSU has played some high-level competition this season, including several ranked teams. The Rams’ three losses between Feb. 19 and March 4 came against Nebraska (who has peaked at No. 39), No. 40 FIU (now No. 37) and No. 46 UNLV.

Individually, sophomore Emily Kolbow upset Boise State’s Anja Dokic in March (currently No. 99). Additionally, she has faced UNLV’s Carol Zi Yang (No. 31) and FIU’s Andrea Lazaro (No. 34).

CAMEROTA EARNS FIRST VICTORY
CSU earned a split Jan. 28-29, beating Milwaukee before falling to Wisconsin of the Big Ten. Despite playing on the road, CSU had more than 50 fans at both matches, playing in the home state of head coach Jarod Camerota and sophomore Emily Kolbow, and nearby several other current, future and former Rams.

‘We appreciate the tremendous support all weekend,” Camerota said. “It’s great to see how much fan support we have all across the country. We learned and grew from this weekend.”

CSU’s win over Milwaukee was the first for Camerota, who is in his first season leading the Rams. Overall, all seven players won either their singles or doubles match against Milwaukee, with Kolbow winning both.

FALL REWIND
The Rams competed in four fall tournaments from September-November, allowing the four freshmen to adjust to the college game and for the entire team to jell together under first-year head coach Jarod Camerota. During the fall, the Rams used 15 different doubles lineups, leaning heavily on the veteran duo of seniors Madison Porter and Celine Voss (3-1). In singles action, freshman Riley Reeves proved to be a great addition to the Rams' roster, picking up six victories, with several coming from the No. 3 post.

"On the last day of the fall, the final day at UNLV, I think the light turned on in our heads that we can be a good team," Camerota said. "We are a young team, but that's exciting."

RETURNING TO THE COURT
Returning to the court this spring are three players from last year's roster, a trio that entered with more than 50 career singles wins and more than 60 doubles victories.

Senior Celine Voss is the veteran of the group, playing in her fourth season with the program. Additionally, Madison Porter (New Mexico) began her collegiate career elsewhere before finding her home at CSU. Porter enters her senior spring season with 57 career victories to her name (27 singles, 30 doubles), Just a freshman last year, Emily Kolbow earned six singles wins -- competing at the No. 1-3 positions -- and a team-high-tying five doubles victories. Late in the year, she won three singles matches in a row.

NEWCOMERS MAKING THEIR MARK
Four true freshmen made their collegiate debuts in September, and each immediately made a mark on the program.

Riley Reeves led all players with six singles victories, in addition to five doubles wins -- mostly at the No. 1 position, while Sandra Keta ranked second on the team with five singles wins (plus three doubles wins). Alyssa Grijalva competed at No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles for the majority of the fall, advancing to the Air Force Invitational Flight A championship, and Solene Crawley advanced to the Rebel Invitational Flight 3 doubles championship.

CAMEROTA AT THE HELM
For the first time in 31 seasons, the Colorado State tennis program is under a new direction. Longtime coach Jon Messick retired following the 2015-16 season, and over the summer, Jarod Camerota – his assistant during his final year – was named the head coach.

"We are excited to have Jarod remain at Colorado State, where he made an immediate impact during his time as assistant coach," director of athletics Joe Parker said at the time of his hiring. "Throughout our national search, it become evident that Jarod had the ability to not only relate to our current student-athletes but also recruit talented players who will become the next wave of our tennis program.

Prior to his one season at CSU, Camerota was an assistant at Northern Arizona (2014-15), helping the Lumberjacks to a fourth-place finish and a semifinals berth in the Big Sky Conference championship. Before NAU, he spent two seasons (2012-14) as a tennis pro at Northwestern. Camerota has previous head coaching experience, as well, holding three head coaching jobs. From 2005-07, he was the head men's and women's tennis coach at Jacksonville University, followed by a stint as the men's tennis coach at Georgia State from 2007-09, and three years (2009-12) as the head men's and women's tennis coach at Mars Hill College.

MEDLIN JOINS STAFF
After being named head coach, one of Camerota's first objectives was completing his coaching staff. He did that by bringing in Erica Medlin.

"Erica was my first choice, even before I got the job," Camerota said. "I hired her because of her maturity and ability to coach, and she has incredible loyalty. She was also a great player, but that's secondary to her being a great coach and a hard worker."

Medlin came to CSU after one season (2015-16) as the assistant coach for Northern Arizona. During her stint in Flagstaff, Medlin helped the Lumberjacks to a Big Sky regular-season championship and runner-up finish in the conference tournament. Four of her players earned All-Big Sky honors, with the top doubles team ranking No. 81 nationally. She is a former collegiate tennis player, spending two years at San José State and her final two seasons at Northern Iowa. As a senior in 2015, Medlin was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. She also earned two All-WAC honors as SJSU, helping the Spartans to their first-ever NCAA appearance.

INK DRYING
The CSU tennis staff announced In November the signings of three athletes. The trio of Emma Corwin, Emily Luetschwager and Priscilla Palermo signed on the first day of the early signing period and all are four-star recruits according to TennisRecruiting.net.

"All three are really good students, good kids and good competitors on the court, and we think they'll bring a lot to our program," Camerota said about the trio who signed in November and will join the program in the fall. "They're good players, but they're hungry and want to get better. I see a lot of potential for each of them to grow."

About Corwin: Will be a 2017 graduate of Brookfield East High School in Brookfield, Wis. ... Three-time Greater Metro Conference champion, winning as a freshman, sophomore and senior... As a senior in 2016, placed third at the Wisconsin state tournament... Helped her school to three consecutive conference championships, placing second at state as a junior in 2015... Was a four-time team MVP and three-year captain for the Spartans... High school coach was Linda Lied... Has been named to the honor roll each semester.
About Luetschwager: Will be a 2017 graduate of Stevens Point Area Senior High School... Back-to-back Wisconsin Division I state champion in 2015 and 2016, also placing fifth in both 2013 and 2014 as a freshman and sophomore... Four-time Wisconsin Valley Conference first-team selection... Helped lead the Panthers to four conference titles, also earning four individual championships at No. 1 singles... Finished her prep career 130-5, never losing a conference match... Was a three-sport athlete, earning eight total letters in tennis, track & field and gymnastics... State qualifier in gymnastics in 2015... Captain in tennis and track & field... High school tennis coach was Gary Baier.... Three-time academic letterwinner, also earning the 2016 AP Scholar with Honor Award... Member of the National Honor Society.
About Palermo: Will be a 2017 graduate of Glenbard East High School in Lombard, Ill. ... Held a career prep record of 55-8, becoming the only player in her school's history to win sectionals (Chicago)... Ranked as the No. 13 player in the Midwest Region by TennisRecruiting.net... Earned all-state and team MVP honors as a freshman in 2014... Earned two varsity letters, only playing her freshman and sophomore seasons... High school coach was William Burt... Also trained under Tom Lockhart... Four-time honor student and member of the National Honor Society.

BOOKS ARE A TOOL OF THE TRADE
The CSU tennis program had the highest team grade-point average of any CSU team in 2015-16, with all seven letterwinners earning Academic All-Mountain West honors. Additionally, for the seventh season in a row, the Rams' entire program earned a cumulative team GPA above 3.20 to earn ITA Academic Team honors, with four student-athletes being named ITA Scholar-Athletes. Included in the group is senior Madison Porter, who is a three-time Academic All-MW recipient and two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete.

2015-16 HIGHLIGHTS

Following back-to-back losses to Seattle and Grand Canyon to begin the spring, CSU rattled off four consecutive home wins. CSU beat CSU-Pueblo (6-1) and Metro State (6-1) on consecutive nights before blanking Colorado College, 7-0, two weeks later. The Rams wouldn't play on their home court again until April 12, but when they finally did, they beat Northern Colorado, 4-3, to extend the streak to four contests.
Overall, CSU was 4-1 against teams from the Centennial State, with its only loss coming at Colorado in early March.
Three of CSU's losses came to nationally ranked teams, including No. 45 New Mexico and No. 67 Cal State Fullerton. The Rams also played two teams receiving votes.
CSU did not play on its home court from late February until the second week of April, spanning more than seven weeks and eight matches. 
The Rams snapped a seven-match losing streak in April with back-to-back wins over Nebraska Omaha (4-0) and Northern Colorado (4-3).

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