The No. 28 women’s tennis team ended its season after losing 4-0 to No. 7 UCLA in the NCAA Regional finals in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Denver advanced to the finals after blanking No. 41 Long Beach State 4-0 on Friday, marking DU’s first NCAA tournament win and its second appearance since the program turned NCAA Division I in 1998.
“We knew going into the match it was going to be extremely tough and that’s how it was,” said junior Mallory Voelker. “Everyone fought hard at each position and we all had opportunities but we just weren’t able to capitalize on them at the right time. It was a good experience for us to play such a highly ranked team and it showed us that we still have some work to do to get to that next level. UCLA was a better team that day but we all competed well and gave it our best effort.”
On Friday, the Pioneers claimed wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, giving Denver a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Ute Schnoy and junior Kyla Iwinski defeated Long Beach State 8-2 at No. 2 doubles after the No. 43 doubles team of Voelker and sophomore Julia Bauregger lost 8-2 at No. 1 doubles. Junior Annette Aksdal and freshman Bhavni Tirumurti recorded an 8-3 win at No. 3 doubles.
Aksdal and Tirumurti carried their momentum into singles competition as Aksdal gave Denver a 2-0 with a 6-2,6-2 win at No. 2 singles. Bauregger also added a point in No. 5 singles with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 victory. Tirumurti charted another win, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 6, boosting the Pioneers 4-0.
Saturday, UCLA jumped to the early lead defeating Denver at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. The Bruins claimed an 8-6 win against Iwinski and Schnoy at No. 2, and an 8-2 win against Aksdal and Tirumurti.
At No. 1 doubles, Voelker and Bauregger proved competitive as they trailed only 7-5 against the No. 1-ranked doubles team of Tracy Lin and Riza Zalameda of UCLA.
UCLA recorded wins at No. 1, No. 4 and No. 6. The Bruin’s No. 8-ranked Zalameda beat No. 70 Voelker 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1. No. 54 Andrea Remynse defeated Bauregger 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4 singles, and in No. 6 singles, UCLA’s Alex McGoodwin claimed the win with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Tirumurti.
Voelker will compete in the NCAA singles championship at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa Okla., May 21-26, with hopes of becoming an All-American.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity for me to play in this tournament and I am going to hopefully make the most of it,” said Voelker. “All the matches and experiences I have had this season have helped to prepare me for this upcoming tournament so I am definitely ready to compete next week.”
