Curtain Opens To Rave Reviews

Calendar

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Jan 17

1:00 PM

Women's Tennis

vs Green & Gold Scrimmage

Jan 24

12:30 PM

Women's Tennis

vs Seattle

Jan 25

12:30 PM

Women's Tennis

vs Montana State

Jan 30

12:00 PM

Women's Tennis

at Gonzaga

Jan 30

5:00 PM

Women's Tennis

vs Eastern Washington

FORT COLLINS – When the curtain is drawn, there is excitement. A bit of nerves. Some anxiousness in certain circles. For some of the team, the buildup started when Friday's alarm rang in the morning, long before first serve of the season opener.

Featuring a bit of a new cast, Colorado State's women's tennis team took a bow after a 5-2 victory over Montana at the Fort Collins Country Club, picking up all five points in singles play.

"We get super excited. There's a lot of excitement and nervous energy," sophomore Logan Voeks said. "It was more excitement this morning than nervous. It was good for our freshmen to see spring energy. It was good to have our first match be a home opener, a lot of people showing up, a lot of voices, a lot of energy.

"Spring is significantly different. Fall is more individual, more like juniors. You're still part of a team but not playing for a team point."

Which is what Mai-Ly Tran wanted to see. When doubles began, there were three Rams who had never played during the spring a member of the team.

As is the case for a coach with the opener, she said there was excitement on her part, putting the focus on seeing where they are individually as players and mentally as Rams.

"What I told them was this was discovering and seeing where their levels are. We had three players we haven't seen compete in the spring, so seeing how they compete in the team format was important," said Tran, beginning her third season at the helm. "Unfortunately, we could see all of them because of an opponent injury but seeing where we're at at the beginning of the season is key and seeing what we can work on. These girls are hard-working and care about each other. They want the others to do well. It's so fun to see them for something bigger than themselves."

The team dropped the doubles point, but the match was tied when singles started as freshman Diana Lizarazo – only on campus for 11 days – was handed a forfeit due to a Montana injury. They quickly jumped in front with Viktoryia Zhadzinskaya's clean win at No. 3, 6-3, 6-1 over Monica Fizova.

It's her fourth season of college tennis, but the senior said the first match is always anticipated. The key to winning was staying true to what she knows works for her.

"Every time I step on the court, I feel little nerves in the first match. The crowd, the excitement, it never changes," Zhadzinskaya said. "I think it's figuring out whatever works for you to stay loose. Nerves at the beginning of a match is normal. I'm just personally focusing on staying aggressive and hitting through my shots. The crowd helps me through that.

"Usually, I have my plan and go out there aggressive, and my point will be good. I'll figure out my game and change something if I have to. It worked well today. I didn't have to change much. I was just going for it, staying on top of the match and working."

Then she did what she likes second best – watching her teammates play. Her early finish allowed her to take in a bit of every match her teammates played.

All the Rams' wins came in straight sets. Victoria Erechtchenko needed a tiebreak at No. 2 to earn her 6-4, 7-6 (3) win against Rosie Sterk, while freshman Mariya Dobreva beat Shivika Agrawal in two tight sets, 7-5, 6-3.

Voeks, like Zhadzinskaya, only surrendered four games overall in her 6-2, 6-2 win over Kate Prichard. While Zhadzinskaya was having fun watching, Voeks was deciphering when to get ready. Having gone through a spring, she feels good about her routine of when to start the playlist, when to warm up and get into a mindset.

And a positive frame of mind was a boon for her in the fall, an improvement she was happy to see carry over after a successful fall.

"I sort of found a head space on the court in the fall. That was new to me; definitely more calm," she said. "It's more living in the moment and not focusing on the past or future. I felt I carried that over today. I'm glad it carried over from fall."

Because spring duals carry more weight. And when the curtain dropped, the Rams were ready for the moment.

Follow us at -- Twitter: @CSUTennis | Instagram: @csuramstennis | Facebook: @CSUTennis

- STALWART -

Friday, January 24

Fort Collins, CO

3:30 PM

Colorado State