BOULDER- The University of Colorado women's tennis team began their inaugural season in the Pac-12 Conference, suffering a 7-0 loss to No. 5 California, Friday afternoon at the South Campus Tennis Courts.
This was the second consecutive match the Buffaloes have played against a ranked opponent after facing No. 34 Nebraska last week in Lincoln, in which they also fell 7-0. Colorado is now 6-5 on the season and 0-1 in Pac-12 play.
California (8-4, 0-1) ranked No. 5 nationally, began the day by winning at all three doubles positions to take a 1-0 lead. Then the Buffaloes had to face five nationally ranked players in the singles competition.
Cal's Annie Goransson ranked No. 93 nationally defeated sophomore Erin Sanders 6-0, 6-0 to gain the first singles point for the visiting team. Then, No. 15 Zsofi Susanyi followed by defeating sophomore Kristina Schleich 6-2, 6-3. The match was clinched once No. 44 Tayler Davis defeated CU sophomore Winde Janssens 6-3, 6-4.
"Although it was a 7-0 defeat, I think we really made this Cal team work hard for the victory by fighting at several positions," said CU head coach Nicole Kenneally. "Our girls worked their tails off today and ultimately if we keep working hard and doing what we need to do, we will continue to put ourselves in a position to win the match."
Freshman Julyette Steur and sophomore Carla Manzi Tenorio are tied on the team with seven dual wins on the spring season, and both fought hard trying to win their eighth, but were unable to do so. Steur won her first set, but then fell 3-6, 6-2, 1-0(7) to No. 101 Anett Schutting. Manzi Tenorio forced a tie-breaker in the second set, but could not quite force a third set losing 6-1, 7-6 (1) to No. 109 Cecilia Estlander.
It was Cal's first-ever visit to Boulder and first-ever matchup against the Buffaloes.
CU continues conference play on Sunday, when they take on yet another ranked foe in the No. 10 Stanford Cardinal. The match will be played at the South Campus Courts beginning at 11:30 a.m., weather permitting.
No. 5 California 7, Colorado 0
CAL (8-4, 1-0), CU (6-5, 0-1)
March 9, South Campus Courts
Boulder, Colo.
1d) No. 27 Goransson/Schutting (CAL) def. Schleich/Steur (CU) 8-4
2d) Davis/Susanyi (CAL) def. Janssens/Manzi Tenorio (CU) 8-3
3d) Duranteau/Estlander (CAL) def. Anuszkiewicz/Tiefel (CU) 8-5
Order of Finish: 2, 3*, 1
1s) No. 15 Zsofi Susanyi (CAL) def. Kristina Schleich (CU) 6-2, 6-3
2s) No. 44 Tayler Davis (CAL) def. Winde Janssens (CU) 6-3, 6-4
3s) No. 101 Anett Schutting (CAL) def. Julyette Steur (CU) 3-6, 6-2, 1-0(7)
4s) No. 93 Annie Goransson (CAL) def. Erin Sanders (CU) 6-0, 6-0
5s) No. 109 Cecilia Estlander (CAL) def. Carla Manzi Tenorio (CU) 6-1, 7-6(1)
6s) Alice Duranteau (CAL) def. Ashley Tiefel (CU) 6-4, 6-3
Order of Finish: 4, 1, 2*, 6, 5, 3
