Lineup Changes Produce Familiar Result

The Rams play at home. The Rams win at home.

But not everything about Saturday's 5-2 victory over Missouri at the Fort Collins Country Club was a case of the same ol', same ol' for Colorado State's women's tennis team. Rather, it came as the result of plenty of alterations in the lineup – particularly at doubles, featuring an upset of a ranked duo – and Viktoryia Zhadzinskaya had a major hand in all of the proceedings.

The victory was the 15^th consecutive for the Rams at home to extend the program record, moving to 3-1 on the season.

The hopeful blueprint for any college coach is to use the fall portion of the schedule to tinker with doubles teams, producing winning combinations for the spring dual season. Colorado State coach Mai-Ly Tran felt she had a pretty good handle on the equation, especially when Radka Buzkova and Victoria Erechtchenko were playing so well together at national ITA events.

When Erechtchenko sustained an injury during the holiday break, it was back to the drawing board for Tran.

"We've been working though the doubles in the past couple of weeks, and we had to make a last-minute decision, but took in a lot of input and knew there was going to be an opportunity today," Tran said. "What was nice was the decision was just make what's best for the team and give ourselves a shot at all three positions. I'm really happy those matchups went well."

Saturday, Buzkova played with her fourth teammate of the season – Zhadzinskaya. It was the first time the two had played together, and they basically had a week to get used to each other. Adding to the degree of difficulty was the fact they were playing Missouri's sister act of Inah and Mae Canete, ranked No. 19 in the country by the ITA.

Buzkova had been playing of late with Zara Lennon, a talented twosome which had gone 1-1. While both are strong, they were very similar in style, so they were split. Lennon was matched with Sarah Weekley, a partner she won the Jon Messick title with during the fall. Sarka Richterova and Logan Voeks remained unchanged, just moving from No. 2 to No. 3.

No problem. With the matches split at the Nos. 2 and 3 spots as Lennon and Weekley collected their eighth win together at 6-2, Colorado State's fresh pairing at the top delivered the doubles point with a 6-4 victory.

Pure genius on Tran's part, obviously.

"I wish we felt like that sometimes. On the other side of that when we try it and it does not work we have to go back," Tran said. "Today was just great to see. They exceeded our expectations."

Playing together for the first time is always a bit tricky, but something Zhadzinskaya is a bit used to, as Buzkova was the fifth teammate she's played with this season.

Even after a relatively small sample size in practice, she felt good about the way they fit together.

"We just had a couple of days of practicing before this, and we're still learning a lot about each other and the way we play," Zhadzinskaya said. "We just kind of go 100 percent and trust your partner. I felt connected to Radka mentally, and I really enjoyed the match.

"I think we're both on the same page as far as our goals and our plan for the match. We both like to be aggressive and come to the net together. It feels like we understand each other, and we like the same formations. It just feels good. Radka is the best baseliner you can find. She's amazing at the net too. It's a good tandem. I didn't know before the match they were ranked, but I was happy to find out about it after. It's a good start."

Zhadzinskaya has been playing doubles all season but this spring she's been returning from an injury which has kept her out of the singles equation. The match with the Tigers presented her first chance to work her way back, moving into the No. 6 spot.

It meant a long wait to get on the court, but she looked smooth and composed in beating Romary Cardenas 6-2, 6-1, finishing before teammates Sarka Richterova and Luana Avelar who both had a good 30-minute head start on their matches.

Coming off an 18-win campaign the season prior, it still felt good to play well and gain some confidence in a situation where she did her best to avoid applying any pressure.

"I was battling my injury, doing rehab every day and trying to stay in a good mental state. I kept believing in myself and trusting myself, knowing even if I come back, I can do a good job in the first match," she said. "There were no high expectations, just trying to do my best every point. I had a good focus. I felt good mentally and I was just taking it point by point."

For Tran, it was the same line of thought.

Though limited, she's seen Zhadzinskaya use what time she had at practice efficiently and effectively. The senior has known when push forward, but also acknowledge when to hold off so as not to create a setback. It's fine line when all a competitor wants to do is play.

"I think for any athlete it's challenging go sit and watch. You're training and you're putting in so much energy and dedication and you don't get to play," she said. "She hasn't been 100 percent, but it's nice to see her kind of turn the corner and see her playing well. I'm sure she's been itching to play singles."

Her victory gave the Rams a 3-1 edge, and Avelar closed out a 7-5, 6-4 match at No. 5 with Andrea Artimedi to clinch the team win. The only two matches Colorado State dropped both went three-sets, with Buzkova and Richterova dropping decisions which played out like slugfests the final two sets of each.

The cushion had been set by Weekley and Lennon, both of whom continued their doubles success as individuals. Weekley, at No. 3, posted a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Gabriela Martinez. Lennon wasn't far behind her with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Inah at the No. 2 spot.

Just like the team she plays with at home, Lennon is building an impressive streak of her own. It was her seventh consecutive win at singles, and all three of her decisions this spring have come in straight sets.

It's good to be playing well. It's better yet when you don't realize just how well.

"I just feel pretty relaxed on the court. Honestly, I'm just trying to be aggressive and take the game to my advantage," Lennon said. "Those are the only things I'm focusing on, and I'm adding this year just a little bit more of positive talk. I mean, I had no idea I've won that many in a row, but it's going well, and I hope it stays like that."

So do the Rams. Even when changes become necessary.

Even though she felt she and Buzkova had been playing well together, it was never about the two of them, but rather the seven currently playing with a common goal.

"I love playing with Sarah. I love the type of doubles we play together," she said. "I also enjoyed playing with Radka, but I think it makes more sense to let us play together since we played during the whole fall. I think coach made a great decision."

That, she said goes for the team. Playing together, making the right decisions, putting them in a good spot moving forward.

It's a long season. Changes are inevitable. But when it comes to success, the Rams hope that remains a constant.

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- STALWART

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Players Mentioned

Luana Avelar

Radka Buzkova

Victoria Erechtchenko

Zara Lennon

Sarka Richterova

Logan Voeks

Sarah Weekley

Viktoryia Zhadzinskaya