SAN FRANCISCO — The University of Colorado women’s tennis team dropped three matches here Thursday in the opening day of the Battle In The Bay Classic.
Colorado’s Antonia Balzert and Aya El Sayed were the only Buffs in attendance at the prestigious season opener, competing against some of the nation’s best. The duo opened in doubles play against the second-seeded tandem from Georgia in Guillermina Grant and Dasha Vidmanova, falling 8-3.
The pair moved onto singles where Balzert dropped a three-set match to host school San Francisco’s Maria Martinez Vaquero. Vaquero picked up the first set 7-5 before Balzert flipped the second 6-3. Vaquero had the upper hand in the third set, winning it 6-1. Balzert will play Yinglak Jittakoat of Cal State Fresno in the consolation round.
El Sayed started out her singles play as a Buff against conference foe Kayla Wilkins of Arizona. Wilkins opened with a 7-5 first set victory before El Sayed took the second 6-3. The third set was a battle with Wilkins edging El Sayed 7-5. El Sayed will play Silvia Maria Costache of Kansas in the consolation.
The Buffs will continue the tournament in the consolation round and will likely pick up exhibition doubles and singles matches as the tournament continues into Friday and Saturday.
RESULTS
Doubles Round of 16
Grand/Vidmanova (UG) def. Balzert/El Sayed (COLO) 8-3
Singles Round of 32
Kayla Wilkins (UA) def. Aya El Sayed (COLO) 7-5, 3-6, 7-5
Maria Martinez Vaquero (USF) def. Antonia Balzert (COLO) 7-5, 3-6, 6-1
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