The Colorado Buffaloes women’s tennis team began their spring season with a 7-0 win over the Montana State Bobcats at the Meadows Club in Boulder on Friday night.
The Buffaloes secured the doubles point early, winning matches at both the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Lera Alexin and Rixt Van der Werff claimed a 6-4 victory at No. 2 doubles, while Anya Nelson and Ema Bubalo won their match at the top spot by the same score. The third doubles match, featuring Pia Rebec and Lani Brotman, was left unfinished after their teammates clinched the point.
“It’s always good to start with a win,” head coach Anthony Pham said. “Montana State is a good team, they always finish at the top of their conference. I’m happy for our team, and good for our underclassmen to get a feel for the competition.”
In singles play, all six Colorado players won in straight sets. Bubalo opened singles with her first win of the spring season and seventh overall this year. Alexin followed with a close second set tiebreaker to secure her match.
“It was a great crowd tonight; we are grateful for everyone who came out to support. There’s always nerves to begin doubles, but with help from the crowd they weathered the storm and got through those matches,” Pham added.
Alexin and Van der Werff started off strong in doubles with a 6-2 win over Bean and Gelashvili, marking their eighth career win as a pair against just one loss. Nelson and Bubalo overcame an early deficit to defeat Wise and Stverakova 6-4.
Bubalo then defeated Anna Wise in singles (6-2, 6-2), followed by Alexin’s victory over Terezie Stverakova (6-2, 7-5). Rebec extended Colorado’s lead by beating Angel Bean (6-2, 6-4). Freshman Lani Brotman earned her first dual match win by defeating Kavya Khirwar (6-1, 7-6).
“I was nervous at first, but once I started moving and getting into it, I felt good,” Brotman said. “The team is great, I felt so much support and felt a lot of energy from the people. Usually when I play, I am pretty locked in, but I felt the love from the crowd.”
Van der Werff added another singles victory against Nia Gelashvili (6-4, 6-3), while Nelson closed out singles play with a win over Lola Bean (6-1, 6-2). In an exhibition match not counting toward team scoring, Heidi Crncan also recorded a victory.
Colorado now holds a perfect 6-0 record against Montana State since beginning play between these teams. The Buffaloes have outscored Montana State by a combined total of 47-0 across those meetings.
This marks the fourth consecutive year that Colorado has opened its home schedule with a victory.
Nelson and Bubalo’s latest doubles win ties them for sixth most wins by any pair in program history with 33 victories together.
Rebec reached her 33rd career singles victory as she continues her junior season; it was only her second time playing at No. 3 singles position.
Both Bubalo and Nelson also recorded their respective 22nd career singles wins during this meet.
Colorado will continue its home schedule on Sunday against Air Force Academy at 2 p.m., with live updates available on Instagram or X (@cubuffstennis).
