Colorado State University Athletics
Sunday, March 16
Fort Collins, CO
11 AM
Colorado State
4
vs
3
New Mexico
Rams Find Their Energy in Victory
3/16/2025 4:29:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Voeks clinches first conference win
FORT COLLINS – Find you energy.
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Not the easiest thing to do on a tennis court. Colorado State coach Mai-Ly Tran feels it can be more difficult than improving a forehand or a backhand, especially considering it has to be the right kind – positive and confident.
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Viktoryia Zhadzinskaya could be the team's poster child. She is literally it for the university in using the campaign this year, and she lived up to her billing at the CSU Tennis Complex on Sunday, playing a big role in the Rams' 4-3 dual win over New Mexico, evening their conference mark at 1-all and improving to 3-10 overall.
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Go the the university website – colostate.edu – and Zhadzinskaya is the cover photo for the campaign. As the men's basketball team has gone on a roll to the Mountain West title and a bid into the NCAA Tournament, the university's promotional video – where she fires off a serve -- has received more air time, leading to more messages from friends than Zhadzinskaya can recall accurately.
Â
It just makes sense she's done so for herself on the court, and this weekend, Tran gave the senior an added boost by moving her up to the No. 2 singles spot. It was a reward for how well she's been playing, which has been her reward from approaching the game in a different fashion.
Â
"I think I have a better mindset. I'm able to go for it and play my game and not stress too much," Zhadzinskaya said. "I believe in myself no matter what the score is, and I let all the stress go at some point. I try to find the flow zone and be in the moment. I'm proud of myself for doing that better this year.
Â
"I'm working on my game and improing my tennis, but the mindset of having more fun on the court has helped me a lot. I think it's a case where you play good in practice and you want to show it in matches. Sometimes nerve, pressure, stress – whatever it is – don't let you. I've been able to overcome it and be able to play like I want to play in a match."
Â
She breezed by Sarah O'Connor 6-2 in the opening set, but was pushed in the second. On the brink of splitting sets, she fired off a winner to move the score to 5-all, then went on to produce a 7-6 (5) win for the team's second singles win of the day.
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As per usual, the Rams were down at the start with just five players, and while she and doubles partner Diana Lizarazo posted a 6-3 win, the visiting Lobos claimed the doubles point. Lizarazo started the Rams' rally with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 5 over Sofia Taborga. The Lobos pushed the lead to 3-1, but Colorado State kept firing.
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Zhadzinskaya was the next win, followed by Victoria Erechtchenko at No. 4 in straight sets, 7-6 (4), 6-3. About five minutes later, the team would celebrate as Logan Voeks clinched a win for the second time this season. She was also a player Tran moved up in the order after Friday's match.
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"I believe in them. I think we have many good players who can step up in those positions, and I really wanted to give them the opportunity," Tran said. "It was great to see them take advantage. I think they all just took ownership of their match and really did what they could on their court, what they could control. It was nice to see them know how good they are and how they played with confidence and just enjoyed it."
Â
Voeks, who needed to rally from 6-3 down to win a tiebreaker and claim a 7-6 (6) first set, was serving for the straight-sets victory. Only thing was, she was down 40-15.
Â
Like her teammate and roommate, Voeks has also found a more positive energy on the court.
Â
"I feel like it's more of an opportunity and less pressure when I'm down, just see what I can do. I'm already in a spot where it's going to be tough to win, and I feel with that pressure I actually do better," Voeks said. "I like playing from down. It's nice. I'd rather not be playing from down, but I'm fine with it now. I didn't used to. I used to be super stressed. I definitely wouldn't come back in a 15-40 game or a 3-6 tiebreak. I'd be way too nervous for that."
Â
But she sealed the win, which was big in a couple of ways. To build a bit more belief, hopefully a touch of momentum.
Â
They're used to being down. The Rams are growing in the regard they don't see themselves as out.
Â
"This is huge for momentum. It's been a tough mentality with five people so far, so getting that win and knowing we can do it helps," Voeks said. "We knew we could do it, but having the results we can is really cool, especially in conference. We're sort of trying to ignore it and take it as every point is a new opportunity. We were in situations last year playing against five and they came out fired up and ready to go, and I feel we've taken that mentality this year of we're just going to fight for as long as we can and stay on the courts."
Â
Sticking to it has become a theme. So has relying upon each other, lessons learned from taking some lumps in the non-conference, a slate which included matches against five teams in the rankings.
Â
They entered conference viewing it as a new start, and even with a loss to start on Friday, the Rams have stuck with the positive outlook.
Â
With Zhadzinskaya leading the charge for the university's theme this year, the team naturally had to follow her lead.
Â
Â
Not the easiest thing to do on a tennis court. Colorado State coach Mai-Ly Tran feels it can be more difficult than improving a forehand or a backhand, especially considering it has to be the right kind – positive and confident.
Â
Viktoryia Zhadzinskaya could be the team's poster child. She is literally it for the university in using the campaign this year, and she lived up to her billing at the CSU Tennis Complex on Sunday, playing a big role in the Rams' 4-3 dual win over New Mexico, evening their conference mark at 1-all and improving to 3-10 overall.
Â
Go the the university website – colostate.edu – and Zhadzinskaya is the cover photo for the campaign. As the men's basketball team has gone on a roll to the Mountain West title and a bid into the NCAA Tournament, the university's promotional video – where she fires off a serve -- has received more air time, leading to more messages from friends than Zhadzinskaya can recall accurately.
Â
It just makes sense she's done so for herself on the court, and this weekend, Tran gave the senior an added boost by moving her up to the No. 2 singles spot. It was a reward for how well she's been playing, which has been her reward from approaching the game in a different fashion.
Â
"I think I have a better mindset. I'm able to go for it and play my game and not stress too much," Zhadzinskaya said. "I believe in myself no matter what the score is, and I let all the stress go at some point. I try to find the flow zone and be in the moment. I'm proud of myself for doing that better this year.
Â
"I'm working on my game and improing my tennis, but the mindset of having more fun on the court has helped me a lot. I think it's a case where you play good in practice and you want to show it in matches. Sometimes nerve, pressure, stress – whatever it is – don't let you. I've been able to overcome it and be able to play like I want to play in a match."
Â
She breezed by Sarah O'Connor 6-2 in the opening set, but was pushed in the second. On the brink of splitting sets, she fired off a winner to move the score to 5-all, then went on to produce a 7-6 (5) win for the team's second singles win of the day.
Â
As per usual, the Rams were down at the start with just five players, and while she and doubles partner Diana Lizarazo posted a 6-3 win, the visiting Lobos claimed the doubles point. Lizarazo started the Rams' rally with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 5 over Sofia Taborga. The Lobos pushed the lead to 3-1, but Colorado State kept firing.
Â
Zhadzinskaya was the next win, followed by Victoria Erechtchenko at No. 4 in straight sets, 7-6 (4), 6-3. About five minutes later, the team would celebrate as Logan Voeks clinched a win for the second time this season. She was also a player Tran moved up in the order after Friday's match.
Â
"I believe in them. I think we have many good players who can step up in those positions, and I really wanted to give them the opportunity," Tran said. "It was great to see them take advantage. I think they all just took ownership of their match and really did what they could on their court, what they could control. It was nice to see them know how good they are and how they played with confidence and just enjoyed it."
Â
Voeks, who needed to rally from 6-3 down to win a tiebreaker and claim a 7-6 (6) first set, was serving for the straight-sets victory. Only thing was, she was down 40-15.
Â
Like her teammate and roommate, Voeks has also found a more positive energy on the court.
Â
"I feel like it's more of an opportunity and less pressure when I'm down, just see what I can do. I'm already in a spot where it's going to be tough to win, and I feel with that pressure I actually do better," Voeks said. "I like playing from down. It's nice. I'd rather not be playing from down, but I'm fine with it now. I didn't used to. I used to be super stressed. I definitely wouldn't come back in a 15-40 game or a 3-6 tiebreak. I'd be way too nervous for that."
Â
But she sealed the win, which was big in a couple of ways. To build a bit more belief, hopefully a touch of momentum.
Â
They're used to being down. The Rams are growing in the regard they don't see themselves as out.
Â
"This is huge for momentum. It's been a tough mentality with five people so far, so getting that win and knowing we can do it helps," Voeks said. "We knew we could do it, but having the results we can is really cool, especially in conference. We're sort of trying to ignore it and take it as every point is a new opportunity. We were in situations last year playing against five and they came out fired up and ready to go, and I feel we've taken that mentality this year of we're just going to fight for as long as we can and stay on the courts."
Â
Sticking to it has become a theme. So has relying upon each other, lessons learned from taking some lumps in the non-conference, a slate which included matches against five teams in the rankings.
Â
They entered conference viewing it as a new start, and even with a loss to start on Friday, the Rams have stuck with the positive outlook.
Â
With Zhadzinskaya leading the charge for the university's theme this year, the team naturally had to follow her lead.
Â
Follow us at -- Twitter: @CSUTennis | Instagram: @csuramstennis | Facebook: @CSUTennis
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- RELENTLESS -
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- RELENTLESS -
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
1
Maria MATSOUKATIDI/ Sofia TABORGA [UNM]
WF
WF
Order of Finish:
2,1,3
#1 Singles Match
12
Maud VANDEPUTTE / 0 [UNM]
66
40
#2 Singles Match
12
Sarah O'CONNOR / 0 [UNM]
26
67
#3 Singles Match
12
Rebekkah GAINES / 0 [UNM]
64
76
#4 Singles Match
12
Maria SODRE / 0 [UNM]
63
76
#5 Singles Match
12
Sofia TABORGA / 0 [UNM]
12
66
#6 Singles Match
1
Coumba BEN MAMADOU / 0 [UNM]
WF
0
Order of Finish:
5,1,2,4,3,6
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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