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Colorado State University Athletics
Sunday, March 15
Fort Collins, CO
11:30 PM Indoors
Colorado State
0
vs
4
Utah State
Rams Drop Opening Conference Set
3/15/2026 4:17:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Five of six singles matches with Aggies reach third set
Mai-Ly Tran says the answer is obvious. What she's waiting for is her Colorado State women's tennis team to fill in the blank.
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"We've got to learn what we're capable of. We're way better than the way we're playing," Tran said after Sunday's 4-0 Mountain West loss to Utah State at the Genesis Health Club. "And so until they realize that, that they need to play our tennis and they're going to do a lot better ... I think they have to understand how good we are.
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"It's unfortunate for us not to be playing up to our level yet. And we will, but it's going to take a hard look from them within themselves to just realize how good they are and to start playing like that."
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Colorado State slipped to 4-9 overall, 0-2 in conference play.
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The doubles matches were tight, but the visiting Aggies took two of the three as the Rams' top line of Luana Avelar and Sorcha Caves posted a 6-3 victory. In six singles matches, five went to a third set. There's a fine line between being right there and being on the winning end.
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Fill in the blank.
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"I think we just need to go out there and go for it and wanting to win. Not expecting anyone to give it to us, and it's tough," sophomore Diana Lizarazo said. "The competition is high level, but I think it comes to belief. I think we have a good team. We've been working really hard, and I think we just need to be willing to win."
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With conference matches played to clinch, there's the chance to walk away a bit frustrated if a match goes unfinished. Lizarazo had a pair like that this weekend. Returning to the lineup from an injury – Sunday was her third time back on the court – a player not only wants to return to form but have results from which to build.
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After splitting the first two sets with Kylee Sperry 6-4, she led 4-3 when the Aggies clinched.
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"Coming back from an injury is really hard. I kind of battled myself, my head, in the beginning," she said. "I think it was just kind of go past through that wall of the negativity and kind of all of the thoughts that could be going on and actually think in the match and think about my other teammates are probably out there. They're also fighting. And it was mostly that, just maybe go through that wall a little bit earlier. But, I mean, I'm getting there."
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She wasn't the only Ram on the courts working her way back, and in the instance of freshman Stella Morgan it was finally getting back. She'd missed the entire spring season to this point, getting a chance to play at the No. 3 doubles spot with classmate Dylan Voeks. They dropped a tight 7-5 decision which decided the opening point.
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Every step forward is a positive one, and Tran knows those taken initially can be the most challenging.
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"D's doing really well, despite just kind of her third match coming back and playing some long extended matches, three setters, so she's doing great," Tran said. "Obviously, Stella's been out for a while and I'm just super proud of her coming back and then how she was able to perform in her first doubles start as a freshman and really handle the situation really well. Super, super proud of her."
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Tran spent the weekend seeing signs of what she knows to be true, waiting for true conviction to take root. Lizarazo suggested the players are starting to see it as well.
Â
They both believe seeing really needs to become believing. The sooner the better.
Â
"It's there, but it's frustrating. And they need to be," Tran said. "I do think they need to be frustrated with the result because we're better than this."
Â
"We've got to learn what we're capable of. We're way better than the way we're playing," Tran said after Sunday's 4-0 Mountain West loss to Utah State at the Genesis Health Club. "And so until they realize that, that they need to play our tennis and they're going to do a lot better ... I think they have to understand how good we are.
Â
"It's unfortunate for us not to be playing up to our level yet. And we will, but it's going to take a hard look from them within themselves to just realize how good they are and to start playing like that."
Â
Colorado State slipped to 4-9 overall, 0-2 in conference play.
Â
The doubles matches were tight, but the visiting Aggies took two of the three as the Rams' top line of Luana Avelar and Sorcha Caves posted a 6-3 victory. In six singles matches, five went to a third set. There's a fine line between being right there and being on the winning end.
Â
Fill in the blank.
Â
"I think we just need to go out there and go for it and wanting to win. Not expecting anyone to give it to us, and it's tough," sophomore Diana Lizarazo said. "The competition is high level, but I think it comes to belief. I think we have a good team. We've been working really hard, and I think we just need to be willing to win."
Â
With conference matches played to clinch, there's the chance to walk away a bit frustrated if a match goes unfinished. Lizarazo had a pair like that this weekend. Returning to the lineup from an injury – Sunday was her third time back on the court – a player not only wants to return to form but have results from which to build.
Â
After splitting the first two sets with Kylee Sperry 6-4, she led 4-3 when the Aggies clinched.
Â
"Coming back from an injury is really hard. I kind of battled myself, my head, in the beginning," she said. "I think it was just kind of go past through that wall of the negativity and kind of all of the thoughts that could be going on and actually think in the match and think about my other teammates are probably out there. They're also fighting. And it was mostly that, just maybe go through that wall a little bit earlier. But, I mean, I'm getting there."
Â
She wasn't the only Ram on the courts working her way back, and in the instance of freshman Stella Morgan it was finally getting back. She'd missed the entire spring season to this point, getting a chance to play at the No. 3 doubles spot with classmate Dylan Voeks. They dropped a tight 7-5 decision which decided the opening point.
Â
Every step forward is a positive one, and Tran knows those taken initially can be the most challenging.
Â
"D's doing really well, despite just kind of her third match coming back and playing some long extended matches, three setters, so she's doing great," Tran said. "Obviously, Stella's been out for a while and I'm just super proud of her coming back and then how she was able to perform in her first doubles start as a freshman and really handle the situation really well. Super, super proud of her."
Â
Tran spent the weekend seeing signs of what she knows to be true, waiting for true conviction to take root. Lizarazo suggested the players are starting to see it as well.
Â
They both believe seeing really needs to become believing. The sooner the better.
Â
"It's there, but it's frustrating. And they need to be," Tran said. "I do think they need to be frustrated with the result because we're better than this."
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1,3
#1 Singles Match
123
Terezia Mlkva / 0 [USU]
666
742
#2 Singles Match
123
Sabina Pintea / 0 [USU]
466
641
#3 Singles Match
1234
Natalie Paterova / 0 [USU]
641UF
463UF
#4 Singles Match
1234
Chahd Tourkhani / 0 [USU]
662UF
375UF
#5 Singles Match
12
Maria Ramos Garcia / 0 [USU]
66
13
#6 Singles Match
1234
Kylee Sperry / 0 [USU]
643UF
464UF
Order of Finish:
5,2,1
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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