Vlasak's crew gets outside and earns first home win of season

By HANNAH LaFOREST
UNCBears.com

GREELEY -- Northern Colorado coach Brenda Vlasak finally got to see her women's tennis team play outside Friday, and the results were bright in a 6-1 nonconference win against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

The Bears (4-5 overall) won at home for the first time this season by earning a doubles sweep and winning five of six singles points at Butler-Hancock Tennis Courts.

"We came out today to take care of business," Vlasak said. "I was proud of the girls for staying focused on their own match, then supporting each other off the court."

The dual's doubles play started off strong for the Bears, with all three of their doubles teams coming away with a victory, putting them ahead 1-0 at the start of singles competition.

Northern Colorado's top doubles team of Stephanie Catlin and Elizabeth Tapia started a three-match winning streak by beating Brooke Henry and Jenny Blackburne 8-5. Catlin and Tapia haven't lost since coming up short against Colorado on February 25.

At No. 3 doubles, the Bears Chrissie Hoolahan and Jennifer Buchanan knocked off Natalia Medina and Anna Botzet 8-1, while their No. 2 duo of Jennifer Whateley and Adriana Nieto won in a close 8-7 decision against Bryna Nasenbeny and Megan McDougall.

Tapia (No. 3), Catlin (No. 5) and Hoolahan (No. 6) won their singles matches, handily knocking off Henry 6-2, 6-2, Medina 6-1, 6-0, and Botzet 6-1, 6-1.

Whateley, a senior, then continued her strong season atop the Bears' singles ladder, beating Nasenbeny in a long 7-5, 6-3 match. Northern Colorado's final point came at No. 4 singles with Buchanan, a junior, defeating McDougall 6-1, 7-5.

"Every match counts, and this was another good nonconference match that is helping our girls stay on top of their games," Vlasak said. "It was also nice to be at home on our own courts in the beautiful Colorado weather."

Northern Colorado will next take on a pair of Nebraska schools on the road. It will face Nebraska Omaha at 6 p.m. tomorrow and then play Creighton at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.