Colorado State University Athletics
Sunday, March 30
Fort Collins, CO
11 AM (Outdoors)/1 PM (Indoors)
Colorado State
2
vs
4
San Diego State
Rams Find Positives In Home Defeat
3/30/2025 6:29:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Top doubles pairing continues to roll
FORT COLLINS – Battling through a season shorthanded can leave a mark. Definitely when it comes to a team's record, which can have an effect on the program's overall psyche. The goal is to not pay attention to it too much.
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Sarah Weekley and Victoria Erechtchenko aren't. Not even the good stuff, which has been their pairing at the top of the Colorado State women's tennis doubles lineup. The twosome has quietly put together an all-conference type of resume through it all, even in Sunday's 4-2 loss to No. 49 San Diego State at the Fort Collins Country Club.
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"Honestly a very unusual pairing, but it seems to work. Personality and playing style," Weekley said. "We did a personality-style test and we were not compatible at all. Hers I know was dominant. Mine was the opposite. Opposite's attract, right?
Â
"Apparently it works on the court. We just know each other and we just have fun."
Â
Winning is fun. Keeping track of just how much can be a chore however, possibly counterproductive.
Â
They posted a 7-5 win over the Aztecs, making them 4-1 in Mountain West play. It was the tandem's third win in a row. All numbers which evaded Weekley.
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"I wouldn't know. No clue," Weekley said. "And if you asked Vici the same thing, she wouldn't know. I think that's the key. It's just playing. We don't care if she makes five mistakes; I don't care. We're just having fun."
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Weekley would have a little more before the day was finished, beating Jo-Yee Chan 7-6 (5), 6-4 at No. 1 singles. The Rams' other point came at the No. 3 singles line when Vicktoryia Zhadzinskaya clipped Zoe Olmos in three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
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Unlike her teammate, Zhadzinskaya will remember the win quite fondly.
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"She played that opponent before in the tournament, so right before the match, I said this is a rematch for you," CSU coach Mai-Ly Tran said. "I think that drove her, and it was motivating for her to beat her this time. That was a gutsy match. It went up and down and they were fighting. I was proud of how it was going, and they're both fighting. She just carried herself so well, was brave and came out on top. It was great fight from her, and I'm so happy because she deserves that win."
Â
It was at the end of last season in the Mountain West Tournament semifinals where the two had last met, with Olmos claiming the point as the Aztecs moved on to the finals. They were not supposed to play Sunday, but San Diego State made some changes to their singles dance card after doubles, leaving Zhadzinskaya to trash the plan she had and go off past memory.
Â
Which did provide the motivation Tran expected.
Â
More than exacting a bit of revenge, the win was more important for her morale, particularly the way it came about. A late break had tied them at 5 in the third set, but Zhadzinskaya broke back, then served out the victory.
Â
"It helps mentally, absolutely. It's something I'll be reminding myself in situations again, that I know I can do it," Zhadzinskaya said. "I haven't had a three-setter this season. Winning a three-setter like this, such a rollercoaster, it's very good for my confidence.
Â
"I just encourage myself, that I have it no matter what, even if I'm down in the game. I did have some emotions right away, but it was bringing myself back. I knew it wasn't helping me to stay emotional. I was telling myself how good it's going to feel it's gong to win an even closer match, so keep pushing."
Â
Weekley came off the court feeling a sense of relief, a step in the right direction in her mind as well.
Â
She's been telling herself it was coming, and to nail it down was gratifying.
Â
"It feels nice to walk off the court not being sad. Not wanting to drop the raquets off a bridge," she said. "It feels nice. I felt good on Friday. That was a good mach, so I just had a lot of confidence for today's match."
Â
In short, she listened to herself. Sort of like she listens to Erechtchenko in doubles, saying if her partner tells her to serve it some place, she just nods and does it.
Â
For Tran, it's part of what makes watching them so fun. The odd couple producing an even-keel on court and positive results.
Â
"They complement each other well and they keep each other relaxed and they keep improving," Tran said. "Sarah's return game and serve game and being brave to come into the net to finish points. Vici's just solid, setting her up. It's been a fun team to always watch, and they've been so reliable.
Â
"They bring out the best in each other, and they keep each other calm. They just complement each other really well."
Â
Whether they should be together or not. Whether they realize it or not.
Â
Â
Sarah Weekley and Victoria Erechtchenko aren't. Not even the good stuff, which has been their pairing at the top of the Colorado State women's tennis doubles lineup. The twosome has quietly put together an all-conference type of resume through it all, even in Sunday's 4-2 loss to No. 49 San Diego State at the Fort Collins Country Club.
Â
"Honestly a very unusual pairing, but it seems to work. Personality and playing style," Weekley said. "We did a personality-style test and we were not compatible at all. Hers I know was dominant. Mine was the opposite. Opposite's attract, right?
Â
"Apparently it works on the court. We just know each other and we just have fun."
Â
Winning is fun. Keeping track of just how much can be a chore however, possibly counterproductive.
Â
They posted a 7-5 win over the Aztecs, making them 4-1 in Mountain West play. It was the tandem's third win in a row. All numbers which evaded Weekley.
Â
"I wouldn't know. No clue," Weekley said. "And if you asked Vici the same thing, she wouldn't know. I think that's the key. It's just playing. We don't care if she makes five mistakes; I don't care. We're just having fun."
Â
Weekley would have a little more before the day was finished, beating Jo-Yee Chan 7-6 (5), 6-4 at No. 1 singles. The Rams' other point came at the No. 3 singles line when Vicktoryia Zhadzinskaya clipped Zoe Olmos in three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
Â
Unlike her teammate, Zhadzinskaya will remember the win quite fondly.
Â
"She played that opponent before in the tournament, so right before the match, I said this is a rematch for you," CSU coach Mai-Ly Tran said. "I think that drove her, and it was motivating for her to beat her this time. That was a gutsy match. It went up and down and they were fighting. I was proud of how it was going, and they're both fighting. She just carried herself so well, was brave and came out on top. It was great fight from her, and I'm so happy because she deserves that win."
Â
It was at the end of last season in the Mountain West Tournament semifinals where the two had last met, with Olmos claiming the point as the Aztecs moved on to the finals. They were not supposed to play Sunday, but San Diego State made some changes to their singles dance card after doubles, leaving Zhadzinskaya to trash the plan she had and go off past memory.
Â
Which did provide the motivation Tran expected.
Â
More than exacting a bit of revenge, the win was more important for her morale, particularly the way it came about. A late break had tied them at 5 in the third set, but Zhadzinskaya broke back, then served out the victory.
Â
"It helps mentally, absolutely. It's something I'll be reminding myself in situations again, that I know I can do it," Zhadzinskaya said. "I haven't had a three-setter this season. Winning a three-setter like this, such a rollercoaster, it's very good for my confidence.
Â
"I just encourage myself, that I have it no matter what, even if I'm down in the game. I did have some emotions right away, but it was bringing myself back. I knew it wasn't helping me to stay emotional. I was telling myself how good it's going to feel it's gong to win an even closer match, so keep pushing."
Â
Weekley came off the court feeling a sense of relief, a step in the right direction in her mind as well.
Â
She's been telling herself it was coming, and to nail it down was gratifying.
Â
"It feels nice to walk off the court not being sad. Not wanting to drop the raquets off a bridge," she said. "It feels nice. I felt good on Friday. That was a good mach, so I just had a lot of confidence for today's match."
Â
In short, she listened to herself. Sort of like she listens to Erechtchenko in doubles, saying if her partner tells her to serve it some place, she just nods and does it.
Â
For Tran, it's part of what makes watching them so fun. The odd couple producing an even-keel on court and positive results.
Â
"They complement each other well and they keep each other relaxed and they keep improving," Tran said. "Sarah's return game and serve game and being brave to come into the net to finish points. Vici's just solid, setting her up. It's been a fun team to always watch, and they've been so reliable.
Â
"They bring out the best in each other, and they keep each other calm. They just complement each other really well."
Â
Whether they should be together or not. Whether they realize it or not.
Â
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- RELENTLESS -
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- RELENTLESS -
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3,2
#1 Singles Match
12
Jo-Yee Chan / 0 [SDSU]
64
76
#2 Singles Match
12
Ninon Martinache / 0 [SDSU]
66
04
#3 Singles Match
123
Zoe Olmos / 0 [SDSU]
365
647
#4 Singles Match
12
Liisa Varul / 0 [SDSU]
66
34
#5 Singles Match
123
Vesa Gjinaj / 0 [SDSU]
65UF
20UF
#6 Singles Match
1
Charlotte Roesch / 0 [SDSU]
WF
0
Order of Finish:
2,1,3,4,6
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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