Kristina Schleich, a freshman from Lilienthal, Germany stretches to keep a point alive on Friday, Sept. 24. Schleich and the rest of the women's team kicked off the season with three consecutive days of matches in the CU Invitational. (Paul Sampson/CU Independent)
The Buffs showed promise after the three-day CU Invitational, a tournament with the University of New Mexico and the University of Denver that came to an end on Sunday at the CU South Campus tennis courts in Boulder.
Freshman Kristina Schleich, who won her first collegiate match on Saturday, gave Colorado an opening victory. Schleich defeated Denver freshman Natalie Dunn, who had won both her singles and doubles matches Sept. 25, 6-2, 7-5 on Sunday.
Continuing on the momentum shown by Schleich, freshman Carla Manzi Tenorio added a win of her own after beating Denver sophomre Sophia Bergner 6-3, 7-5.
Head coach Nicole Kenneally said these strong performances from freshmen will have a significant effect on their team.
“I think it’s important and exciting when you have freshmen come in and make an immediate impact,” Kenneally said of her younger players. “They all made a positive, dominant statement for themselves and their teammates in regards to how they want to succeed.”
The doubles team of Manzi Tenorio and freshman Winde Janssens won Colorado’s only doubles match Saturday.
Schleich and CU sophomore Erin Sanders teamed up but came up short, losing 4-8 to New Mexico State juniors Natalia Salum and Manon Sylvain.
Kenneally said the season is looking up.
“We’re excited,” she said. “We’re going to continue to work hard and fight like Buffaloes.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Mark McNeillie at Mark.mcneillie@colorado.edu.
