Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, January 28
Denver, CO
1:30 PM
Colorado State
0
at
4
Denver
Rams Split Opening Day of Dual Season
1/28/2023 7:39:00 PM | Women's Tennis
After falling to Denver, CSU bounces back with a win over MSU Denver
DENVER – Collegiate coaches have to build a roster for a season year after year for program stability and sustainability.
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Mai-Ly Tran had both in mind when she took over the Colorado State women's tennis team a year ago. She wanted immediate success most certainly, but she wanted to transform the brand into a consistent winner. It takes solid recruiting, and sometimes the best pitches a coach can make in this climate is to those already on their roster.
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As the Rams opened the dual season Saturday with a pair of matches at the Denver Tennis Park, they did so with the knowledge Radka Buzkova and Sarka Richterova -- two players who helped transform the trajectory of the program -- will return for a third campaign.
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"It's incredibly impactful. Those are two players who really set the foundation last year and created the culture," Tran said. "They were able to contribute so much to the top of our lineup last year. Just to have some consistency in the program and really help the newcomers and welcome them in and introduce them to what Colorado State tennis is all about now is vital.
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"They're amazing people and players. When they initially came in, they told me they were going to graduate. It shows what we're building here for them to want to return."
Â
The spring season opened with a split as the Rams dropped a 4-0 decision to Denver, then flipped the script and beat Metro State Denver by the same 4-0 score. It was a long day, but a productive one for all of them. For Buzkova and Richterova, they felt better knowing the day wasn't the beginning of their final season.
Â
Both of them had decided they really wanted to play another year of tennis, so they mulled it over last season. In the end, they both said they just didn't want to play anywhere else.
Â
"Last season was just so much fun. We had a good season, a good coach and this close to winning the conference championship, so I wanted to have that one more year," Richterova said. "I wanted that chance. I like the program, and I love the team. A big part of my decision is I basically know most of the team, and six of the girls will be the same. I love them. It will be great."
Â
Both of the Czech Republic products chatted about it a lot. Richterova decided first, then Buzkova a few weeks later. In the end, they both felt they would have regretted not coming back.
Â
Both of them etched their names into the Colorado State record book, Richterova in doubles, Buzkova in both doubles and singles as an All-Mountain West performer. By qualifying for the ITA Fall Nationals in doubles (both with different partners), they became the first Rams to ever reach the level, and Buzkova and Matea Mihaljevic became the first Rams to win an ITA Mountain Region title.
Â
Deep down, Buzkova said she's loyal. She knows Tran is too, and she really didn't want to disappoint her coach. Or her teammates.
Â
"I just felt like it's a great opportunity and why not use it," Buzkova said. "I can do my master's during that year, and I'm going to miss playing when it's done. I have stability here and I know coach is great. I mean, she did a lot during last year, and I think she has a big part of what kind of team we are. She gives us freedom and it's a great atmosphere. I feel like she would be sad if I left."
Â
Colorado State dropped its initial dual of the day, falling 4-0 to Denver. The Pioneers won the doubles point despite the Rams' top tandem of Buzkova and Emily Dush winning their match. The Rams picked up first-set wins in singles from Weekley, Luana Avelar and Viktoryia Zhadzinskaya in the dual, but all of them split sets and were on the court when the Pioneers secured the team win with victories at the 1,2 and 4 singles positions.
Â
The match with Metro State Denver was a reversal, winning the doubles points with Buzkova and Dush grabbing one victory, Richterova and Viktoryia Zhadzinskaya the other.
Â
When singles began, the Rams came out firing winning four first sets 6-0. Making adjustments was part of it, as Tran flipped Buzkova and Weekley in singles, doing the same with Luana Avelar and Zara Lennon, leaving Dush (No. 1) and Zhadzinskaya (No. 6) as the bookends.
Â
"With the majority of the team being new, I think we're still trying to find our roles and our spots," Tran said. I think we're a very deep and talented team which has the potential to play at the top. Right now, it's just discovery. I think our body language and our energy dropped in the second sets the first match, so working on sustaining that and showing some confidence and also being more disciplined in the way we play. We needed to build the points more."
Â
In the end, it was a race to pick up an individual victory before the team score was determined. Sarah Weekley was first to the finish line with matching 6-0, 6-0 scores at No. 2, and Lennon won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 5. Buzkova sealed the victory with her 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 2.
Â
The day was long, with the first match starting at 1:30 p.m. and the Rams not closing out the Roadrunners until around 7. But the stay of two of the top players will be longer still, which was a very comforting feeling indeed.
Â
"To me, a priority is retaining players," Tran said. "I'm really proud the players want to stay. I value the relationships and I value them as people."
Â
Â
Mai-Ly Tran had both in mind when she took over the Colorado State women's tennis team a year ago. She wanted immediate success most certainly, but she wanted to transform the brand into a consistent winner. It takes solid recruiting, and sometimes the best pitches a coach can make in this climate is to those already on their roster.
Â
As the Rams opened the dual season Saturday with a pair of matches at the Denver Tennis Park, they did so with the knowledge Radka Buzkova and Sarka Richterova -- two players who helped transform the trajectory of the program -- will return for a third campaign.
Â
"It's incredibly impactful. Those are two players who really set the foundation last year and created the culture," Tran said. "They were able to contribute so much to the top of our lineup last year. Just to have some consistency in the program and really help the newcomers and welcome them in and introduce them to what Colorado State tennis is all about now is vital.
Â
"They're amazing people and players. When they initially came in, they told me they were going to graduate. It shows what we're building here for them to want to return."
Â
The spring season opened with a split as the Rams dropped a 4-0 decision to Denver, then flipped the script and beat Metro State Denver by the same 4-0 score. It was a long day, but a productive one for all of them. For Buzkova and Richterova, they felt better knowing the day wasn't the beginning of their final season.
Â
Both of them had decided they really wanted to play another year of tennis, so they mulled it over last season. In the end, they both said they just didn't want to play anywhere else.
Â
"Last season was just so much fun. We had a good season, a good coach and this close to winning the conference championship, so I wanted to have that one more year," Richterova said. "I wanted that chance. I like the program, and I love the team. A big part of my decision is I basically know most of the team, and six of the girls will be the same. I love them. It will be great."
Â
Both of the Czech Republic products chatted about it a lot. Richterova decided first, then Buzkova a few weeks later. In the end, they both felt they would have regretted not coming back.
Â
Both of them etched their names into the Colorado State record book, Richterova in doubles, Buzkova in both doubles and singles as an All-Mountain West performer. By qualifying for the ITA Fall Nationals in doubles (both with different partners), they became the first Rams to ever reach the level, and Buzkova and Matea Mihaljevic became the first Rams to win an ITA Mountain Region title.
Â
Deep down, Buzkova said she's loyal. She knows Tran is too, and she really didn't want to disappoint her coach. Or her teammates.
Â
"I just felt like it's a great opportunity and why not use it," Buzkova said. "I can do my master's during that year, and I'm going to miss playing when it's done. I have stability here and I know coach is great. I mean, she did a lot during last year, and I think she has a big part of what kind of team we are. She gives us freedom and it's a great atmosphere. I feel like she would be sad if I left."
Â
Colorado State dropped its initial dual of the day, falling 4-0 to Denver. The Pioneers won the doubles point despite the Rams' top tandem of Buzkova and Emily Dush winning their match. The Rams picked up first-set wins in singles from Weekley, Luana Avelar and Viktoryia Zhadzinskaya in the dual, but all of them split sets and were on the court when the Pioneers secured the team win with victories at the 1,2 and 4 singles positions.
Â
The match with Metro State Denver was a reversal, winning the doubles points with Buzkova and Dush grabbing one victory, Richterova and Viktoryia Zhadzinskaya the other.
Â
When singles began, the Rams came out firing winning four first sets 6-0. Making adjustments was part of it, as Tran flipped Buzkova and Weekley in singles, doing the same with Luana Avelar and Zara Lennon, leaving Dush (No. 1) and Zhadzinskaya (No. 6) as the bookends.
Â
"With the majority of the team being new, I think we're still trying to find our roles and our spots," Tran said. I think we're a very deep and talented team which has the potential to play at the top. Right now, it's just discovery. I think our body language and our energy dropped in the second sets the first match, so working on sustaining that and showing some confidence and also being more disciplined in the way we play. We needed to build the points more."
Â
In the end, it was a race to pick up an individual victory before the team score was determined. Sarah Weekley was first to the finish line with matching 6-0, 6-0 scores at No. 2, and Lennon won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 5. Buzkova sealed the victory with her 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 2.
Â
The day was long, with the first match starting at 1:30 p.m. and the Rams not closing out the Roadrunners until around 7. But the stay of two of the top players will be longer still, which was a very comforting feeling indeed.
Â
"To me, a priority is retaining players," Tran said. "I'm really proud the players want to stay. I value the relationships and I value them as people."
Â
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- STALWART -
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- STALWART -
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
1
4
Claudi Martinea de Velasco/ Taylor Melville [DU]
6
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1,2
#1 Singles Match
12
35
Taylor Melville / 0 [DU]
67
#2 Singles Match
12
61
Andrea Beltran / 0 [DU]
76
#3 Singles Match
1234
622UF
Britt Pursell / 0 [DU]
461UF
#4 Singles Match
12
50
Louise Wikander / 0 [DU]
76
#5 Singles Match
1234
630UF
Caroline Driscoll / 0 [DU]
463UF
#6 Singles Match
1234
611UF
Anastasia Simonov / 0 [DU]
464UF
Order of Finish:
4,2,1
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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