Composed Rams Take Down Nevada

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Vama Lu.

The phrase will ring throughout the complex when Colorado State's singles players are on the court, directed at freshman Luana Avelar. It's their way of sending encouragement from across the way. They all cheer for each other, in one way or another, but this is what they yell to the newcomer.

And what she says to herself on the court. It's her way of telling herself to pick up the pace. And yes, it does seem weird talking to herself in the third person.

"Yes, it does. But I just got used to it," she said. "It feels really good hearing other people say it as well."

It also helps her keep her emotions in check, which as a team, the No. 60 Rams did really well throughout the afternoon at the CSU Tennis Complex in their match against Nevada, producing a 4-3 victory for a weekend sweep in conference play.

Every member of the team talks to themselves. Most of it is positive. Sometimes, they scold themselves, but very rarely is there anything outward. And with the match tied at 3-all and the No. 1 spot still remaining in a tight match, an explosive outburst helped put the Rams in the driver's seat.

Radka Buzkova dropped the first set to Amahee Charrier 7-5 but came back 6-3 in the second. At 3-2, Buzkova hit a tight shot to put herself up 4-2, then Charrier fired a ball into the fence, resulting in a one-game penalty having been issued a warning earlier in the match. It gave Buzkova a 5-2 advantage, and she didn't' waste the opportunity to seize control, clinching the match with a 6-3 decision in the final set.

"I mean, it was a very close point, so I get that she was mad. The ref was also pretty strict, but knowing the whole match he was pretty strict, he should have just kept her emotions," Buzkova said. "That's the rules.

"I was pretty confident because she was up and down. When I saw she was getting a little mad, she was missing the ball, so I knew it was good for me."

Buzkova said she's been on the other side of emotions getting the best of her. It was the way she played when she was younger, but she learned quickly it would be counterproductive a level up.

Now, on the court, she looks steady as a rock. Watching her play, you'd be hard pressed to tell what the score is in the match.

"I used to be very emotional when I was a junior. Coming to college you have to change that," she said. "Just like we saw during this match, once you express yourself emotionally, you can get a code violation and lose a game. So, I try to be steady, even though it's hard. Sometimes the emotions go to the surface.

"I keep it inside, but sometimes I explode. But it's not that often as it used to be."

Which is what Avelar is also trying to do. She's always talked to herself on the court, but it wasn't always in a positive manner. It had a predictable outcome for her play, too.

Just this season, she sought guidance to have the habit be more of a productive activity.

"Honestly, it used to do more worse than good, but then I realized that if I say out loud my mistakes and what can I do after, it just gives me help," she said. "I'm not gonna lie, sometimes I say some bad things just to put it out there, but then it really helps me before every point – come on, you've got it – it's a little positive.

"I work with a sports therapist, and he really helps with my control. Whenever I'm quiet, then my mind starts thinking. When I say it out loud, I can control what I'm thinking and what I'm listening too. It's really helping, and that started two months ago."

Her match was just as chaotic looking on the board, coming out strong with a 6-4 win in the first set at No. 5, then quickly dropping a 6-1 decision. Her reaction was to go through her calming routine, which put her back on track.

She stormed back with a 6-2 third-set advantage.

"A strategy I do is after I lose a set, I always go to the bathroom and I put water on my face and convince myself that the match is starting over again, so I cannot waste any opportunity," she explained.

Colorado State coach Mai-Ly Tran was impressed with the way her team handled the emotions and flow of the afternoon. The Rams didn't start out hot, but they finished with the desired outcome.

She had confidence they'd get there because it's what they've showed her.

"I think with this team, especially watching them in the last year or two, they fight. Just knowing ourselves and staying calm and collected was the key to today," Tran said, the squad now 13-4 on the year, 2-2 in conference. "We didn't have a great start obviously not winning the doubles point and the slow start in the beginning of singles, but everyone stayed calm, and we started to play our tennis. We started to be us and play aggressive and fight, and then I think they really put pressure on Nevada the entire match.

"We like to talk about expecting it to be tough and expect challenges and expect opportunities and be prepared for that, then continue to adapt. It's really mentally and physically being ready for those challenges."

It's the characteristic Tran feels the team will have to carry with them throughout the remainder of the season.

There are four ranked teams in the conference, but only Wyoming remains unbeaten among them in conference play. The day before, Nevada took the Cowgirls down to the wire before falling 4-3.

"I think that's what's exciting about the Mountain West. It's nice to see the upsets – I'm not sure they're even upsets – but to see the uncertainty an knowing any team can win it any day," Tran said. "It's really preparing each team to be ready. I told them winning any Mountain West match is a great accomplishment and to be proud of that."

Nevada took the early edge by picking up doubles wins at the top two spots. Then the rest of the day was a battle, with Nevada winning at No. 6 singles, followed by CSU's victories from Zara Lennon at No. 2 (6-4, 6-3 over Anastasia Luneva), Sarka Richterova at No. 4 (7-5, 6-3 over Wiem Boubaker) and Avelar at No. 5, putting the Rams up 3-2. Nevada won at No. 5 to knot up the team score with a three-set decision, leaving all eyes on the first court.

Normally clinching for the Rams is left up to Lennon – she's 4-0 in those opportunities this season – but Buzkova didn't have issue with handing the chore.

"We love Zara clinching. She can always do it," Buzkova said. "It was my first time this year."

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Luana Avelar

Radka Buzkova

Zara Lennon

Sarka Richterova