Team can’t overcome loss of star
Things had been going smoothly for CSU’s women’s tennis this
season, until the hated injury bug struck a star.
Before suiting up to face in-state rival Air Force last weekend
in a tournament in Albuquerque, N.M., No. 1 singles player and team
leader Dasha Zhurin sprained her ankle and was unable to play all
weekend.
“Losing Dasha made things tough for our team; any time you lose
your No. 1 player (it’s difficult),” said head coach Jon Messick.
“It created a lot of matchup problems.”
Entering the weekend, the Rams were riding a five-match win
streak and an undefeated start in Mountain West competition along
with individual winning streaks from Tatyana Ugorich and freshman
Emily Kirchem.
Despite being short handed, the Rams rallied to beat the Falcons
4-2 and move to 10-5 on the season. Key performances came from
Kirchem, who replaced Zhurin at the No. 1 singles position and won
6-7, 6-3, 6-2. Ugorich continued her winning streak as well,
defeating Air Force’s Gina Black to improve to 12-1 on the
season.
“The whole team stepped up and everyone stayed positive. We lost
the doubles point but kept it close, Messick said. “All in all our
teamed played very well.”
The next day the Rams faced Mountain West powerhouse New Mexico,
currently ranked 32nd in the nation. The loss of Zhurin proved too
costly for the red hot Rams.
“New Mexico was just too good of a team for us to be down a
player,” Messick said. “At full strength I think we definitely have
a shot, but we just couldn’t match up with them.”
The Lobos ousted the Rams 7-0, giving the team its biggest
defeat of the season.
“If healthy, I think we could make a good run at them in the
tournament, possibly in the later rounds, last weekend, we just
couldn’t compete,” Messick said.
The Rams will look to avenge their embarrassing defeat to New
Mexico when they return to action this weekend in San Diego where
they will face Mountain West opponents San Diego State and
UNLV.
“Both teams are well balanced and very competitive and should
give us a challenge,” Messick said. “Hopefully our team will be at
full strength by then and we can play our game.”
Zhurin’s injury is currently day-to-day, Messick added. However,
the senior will resume practicing this week and is probable this
weekend.
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