Senior finance major Melisa Esposito prepares to return the ball during CU's match against Vanderbilt on Saturday. Vanderbilt beat CU 6-1. (CU Independent/Charlie Sievers)
Monica Milewski’s name is now spelled correctly. An earlier version gave an incorrect spelling of her last name. We regret these errors. 1/24/10; 10:55
Game, set and match.
The No. 60 Colorado Buffaloes women’s tennis squad was no match for No. 22 Vanderbilt, who handled the Buffs 6-1 Saturday at the Millenium Harvest House indoor courts.
The Buffs (1-1) couldn’t get anything going early as they dropped all three doubles matches.
CU seniors Melisa Esposito and Camila Belassi lost 8-5 in No. 1 doubles while senior Monica Milewski and sophomore Ania Anuszkiewicz lost 8-6 in No. 2 doubles. The No. 3 doubles match was not even close as Vandy juniors Rachael Dillon and Keilly Ulery made quick work of CU junior Abbie Probert and sophomore Michala Hedelund Jensen, taking the match 8-1.
Playing a big-time contender early, however, seemed beneficial for the Buffs.
“It showed us where our strengths are and also showed us what we need to improve on,” head coach Nicole Kenneally said.
Vanderbilt (1-0) boasts three players ranked in singles play and it showed in almost every match.
Vanderbilt sophomore Jackie Wu, ranked No. 29, handed Esposito a 6-2, 6-3 loss in No. 2 singles.
Milewski had a golden opportunity to move into eighth place on CU’s all-time singles career wins list, but she dropped the No. 1 singles match to senior Catherine Newman, ranked No. 31, 6-2, 7-5.
Vandy secured the victory when Ulery defeated Belassi 7-5, 6-0 in No. 3 singles, giving them a 4-0 lead. However, it didn’t get easier as Vanderbilt sophomore Chelsea Preeg took down Probert 6-4, 6-1.
The Buffs’ only point of the day came in the No. 5 singles match when Hedelund Jensen defeated Dillon 7-6, 6-3.
Some CU players said they were impressed with how Vanderbilt handled them.
“They are definitely a good team,” Milewski said. “They executed well and did what they were supposed to, and it made the difference today.”
With a short memory and solid play, the Buffs control their own destiny as the spring season is just underway. But they must stay focused, players say, as the schedule gets harder.
“It never feels good to lose,” Esposito said. “But it’s still early on in the season and we can only go up from here.”
The Buffs will head to Berkeley, Calif., this weekend for the ITA Kickoff Weekend. They will square off against No. 58 Sacramento State at noon Friday and either No. 3 California or No. 62 Utah at noon or 3 p.m. Saturday.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Richard Londer at Richard.londer@colorado.edu.
