Colorado State University Athletics
Monday, February 20
Denver Tennis Park
12:30 PM
Colorado State
4
vs
3
Brown
Rams Rally For Sixth Consecutive Win
2/20/2023 4:33:00 PM | Women's Tennis
DENVER – Maybe the constant, racing heart at the end of matches wasn't expected, but as for everything else, it was why Emily Dush signed up.
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Especially the winning part.
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Colorado State's women's tennis team won for the second time in three days, topping Brown 4-3 at the Denver Tennis Park on Monday. And for the second match in a row, it was Zara Lennon on the court winning a third set to cap the victory – a sixth in succession for the Rams.
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Watching a teammate try to bring it home isn't easy.
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"I mean, you're riding it with them," Dush said. "Sometimes it's harder because you're not physically out there, but it's having faith and Zara's done it three times now. We have faith she's going to do it and has done it. It's comforting and reassuring, but every match is a new match and we're still feeling all the emotions with her."
Â
The Rams were in an early hole after dropping the doubles point but the scorers were a precursor – the Rams lost 7-5 at No. 1 and 6-4 at No. 2, and the third squad was at 6-all when it was decided.
Â
Radka Buzkova and Emily Dush produced the first singles victories, both in straight sets. Buzkova won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3, Dush with match 6-4 scores at the top spot.
Â
The grad transfer from Utah has been splitting time at No. 1 singles with Sarah Weekley during the dual season, and Dush's victory makes her 1-1 at the spot which carries a bit of pride and some pressure to hold.
Â
"There is, but at the end of the day, every court equals one point. If you keep your focus on that, it's fine," she said. "I just think about playing. I like the way I'm serving and setting up points to get my forehand, and I'm also starting to come in more, which is shortening up points and putting pressure on my opponent. I'm kinda changing things up."
Â
CSU picked up a win from Luana Avelar, 7-5, 6-3, for a third team point, and the match drew even when Brown won at No. 6 after a long tiebreak.
Â
At the time, Lennon was tied at 5-all with Addison Ahlstrom in their No. 4 singles match, but she had trailed 5-3.
Â
"I was serving at 5-3, and I had a pretty good service game, so I was in my head trying to put things easily," Lennon said. "Like, I'm going to serve here and hit my first ball there, to have a very specific pattern in my head, that no matter what, I was going to do that, even if it went out. On her serve, I was having trouble returning, so I just really focused on putting the ball in play and then get in the court and try to attack. I was just really thinking about one more ball, then being aggressive. First ball in the court, then let's see what happens."
Â
Back even and on the service line, Lennon definitely knew what was on the line. Each game she took was a step toward more confidence, but she still didn't want to get too far ahead of herself.
Â
Before the season began, she had only won one clincher in her career, as a freshman at Long Beach State. Now she's done it three times, including the past two matches.
Â
"I was down today, so I knew I didn't have any room for error, so it was a little more … I knew it had to be now and right now," Lennon said. "I wasn't nervous or anxious, but I knew it had to happen. It's not getting easier. I guess I' just getting used to it.
Â
"I'm not really thinking about the score, I'm thinking about my momentum in my head. This has been working, let's keep doing it. At times I was up 40-love and then it was 40-all, so I made a couple of mistakes, but I was, 'we're doing the right things, we're on the court.' Coach always says if you're doing the right thing, it's fine."
Â
Which the Rams have been doing a lot of recently. After opening the dual season with a loss to Denver, the team has won six in a row. Head coach Mai-Ly Tran said there were some struggles early in the fall, which was to be expected with five new players on the roster.
Â
Since the dual season has begun, she's started to see players settle in, but better yet, a team.
Â
"I'm learning how resilient they are. We have a lot more depth this year, and we had some struggles with a new team, figuring ourselves out, figuring our games out in the fall," she said. "I think a lot of things are coming together. We have some momentum, and they've been building their confidence up each match and the belief is there. They're starting to believe how good they are as individuals and a team."
Â
Dush is just enjoying the ride, adding the tight matches just make it more fun.
Â
The end goal for her is to win the day, no matter how it's accomplished. However it gets done, she's learned she's part of a roster of rather determined young ladies, all there to do their part, all there for each other. Standing on the side of the court as a group watching one teammate try to decide the fate of the day can be nerve-racking, especially since you have no control over the outcome.
Â
But it's not just in those moments she feels it, but each day at practice on the court. Win or lose, this is what she wanted.
Â
"I expected a team and a good sense of community, and I think that's what we have going for us," she said. "That's what's helped us manage to get these wins. Overall, that's what I wanted coming to this program and that's what we're getting, and that's what is helping to set us apart and helping us get these close wins."
Â
Â
Especially the winning part.
Â
Colorado State's women's tennis team won for the second time in three days, topping Brown 4-3 at the Denver Tennis Park on Monday. And for the second match in a row, it was Zara Lennon on the court winning a third set to cap the victory – a sixth in succession for the Rams.
Â
Watching a teammate try to bring it home isn't easy.
Â
"I mean, you're riding it with them," Dush said. "Sometimes it's harder because you're not physically out there, but it's having faith and Zara's done it three times now. We have faith she's going to do it and has done it. It's comforting and reassuring, but every match is a new match and we're still feeling all the emotions with her."
Â
The Rams were in an early hole after dropping the doubles point but the scorers were a precursor – the Rams lost 7-5 at No. 1 and 6-4 at No. 2, and the third squad was at 6-all when it was decided.
Â
Radka Buzkova and Emily Dush produced the first singles victories, both in straight sets. Buzkova won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3, Dush with match 6-4 scores at the top spot.
Â
The grad transfer from Utah has been splitting time at No. 1 singles with Sarah Weekley during the dual season, and Dush's victory makes her 1-1 at the spot which carries a bit of pride and some pressure to hold.
Â
"There is, but at the end of the day, every court equals one point. If you keep your focus on that, it's fine," she said. "I just think about playing. I like the way I'm serving and setting up points to get my forehand, and I'm also starting to come in more, which is shortening up points and putting pressure on my opponent. I'm kinda changing things up."
Â
CSU picked up a win from Luana Avelar, 7-5, 6-3, for a third team point, and the match drew even when Brown won at No. 6 after a long tiebreak.
Â
At the time, Lennon was tied at 5-all with Addison Ahlstrom in their No. 4 singles match, but she had trailed 5-3.
Â
"I was serving at 5-3, and I had a pretty good service game, so I was in my head trying to put things easily," Lennon said. "Like, I'm going to serve here and hit my first ball there, to have a very specific pattern in my head, that no matter what, I was going to do that, even if it went out. On her serve, I was having trouble returning, so I just really focused on putting the ball in play and then get in the court and try to attack. I was just really thinking about one more ball, then being aggressive. First ball in the court, then let's see what happens."
Â
Back even and on the service line, Lennon definitely knew what was on the line. Each game she took was a step toward more confidence, but she still didn't want to get too far ahead of herself.
Â
Before the season began, she had only won one clincher in her career, as a freshman at Long Beach State. Now she's done it three times, including the past two matches.
Â
"I was down today, so I knew I didn't have any room for error, so it was a little more … I knew it had to be now and right now," Lennon said. "I wasn't nervous or anxious, but I knew it had to happen. It's not getting easier. I guess I' just getting used to it.
Â
"I'm not really thinking about the score, I'm thinking about my momentum in my head. This has been working, let's keep doing it. At times I was up 40-love and then it was 40-all, so I made a couple of mistakes, but I was, 'we're doing the right things, we're on the court.' Coach always says if you're doing the right thing, it's fine."
Â
Which the Rams have been doing a lot of recently. After opening the dual season with a loss to Denver, the team has won six in a row. Head coach Mai-Ly Tran said there were some struggles early in the fall, which was to be expected with five new players on the roster.
Â
Since the dual season has begun, she's started to see players settle in, but better yet, a team.
Â
"I'm learning how resilient they are. We have a lot more depth this year, and we had some struggles with a new team, figuring ourselves out, figuring our games out in the fall," she said. "I think a lot of things are coming together. We have some momentum, and they've been building their confidence up each match and the belief is there. They're starting to believe how good they are as individuals and a team."
Â
Dush is just enjoying the ride, adding the tight matches just make it more fun.
Â
The end goal for her is to win the day, no matter how it's accomplished. However it gets done, she's learned she's part of a roster of rather determined young ladies, all there to do their part, all there for each other. Standing on the side of the court as a group watching one teammate try to decide the fate of the day can be nerve-racking, especially since you have no control over the outcome.
Â
But it's not just in those moments she feels it, but each day at practice on the court. Win or lose, this is what she wanted.
Â
"I expected a team and a good sense of community, and I think that's what we have going for us," she said. "That's what's helped us manage to get these wins. Overall, that's what I wanted coming to this program and that's what we're getting, and that's what is helping to set us apart and helping us get these close wins."
Â
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Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1
#1 Singles Match
12
Vivian Miller / 0 [BU]
44
66
#2 Singles Match
12
Britany Lau / 0 [BU]
77
55
#3 Singles Match
12
Ali Benedetto / 0 [BU]
13
66
#4 Singles Match
123
Addison Ahlstrom / 0 [BU]
625
167
#5 Singles Match
12
Olivia Mariotti / 0 [BU]
63
76
#6 Singles Match
12
Nora Lee / 0 [BU]
67
46
Order of Finish:
3,1,2,5,6,4
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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