DENVER –Mai-Ly Tran hoped for more carryover from Saturday to Sunday. Instead, she produced a list of targets for her team as the opening weekend ended with a dual against Denver.
 
The host Pioneers swept the match 4-0 at Denver Tennis Park, leaving three matches on the court, two of which were in the third set. The Rams held grander expectations entering the day, knowing the Pioneers were going to be a tough draw.
 
“I think the biggest learning lesson is going to be from today. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this, and it was kinda fast,” CSU’s Radka Buzkova said. “I think we have to learn how to make these matches longer, stay there for as long as we can and don’t let this happen. I’m disappointed.”
 
The revamped Colorado State doubles lineup dropped the point with the bottom two spots falling 6-2, while the top tandem led 5-3. In singles, only Buzkova won a first set, topping Britt Pursell 6-1, then dropping the next 3-6. They were about to start the third set when Denver won at No. 4 to clinch, having previously taken the matches at the Nos. 3 and 6 spots in straight sets.
 
At No. 5, Colorado State’s Sarka Richterova battled back to force a third set with Alice Otis, splitting 1-6, 6-4 and standing 1-0 as the match was clinched.
 
“We have to see what went well, see what went better and how to do it at this point. We talked about the month of January, we’re just looking to get better every single time and develop and build into the season,” Tran said. “It’s the first week of the season still, and we had a great win and then we faced a really good team where we have to be ready and be more discipline against a team like this, and we weren’t. There’s good and some things to improve on, things we learned from both matches. I think there’s a lot to gather from this.”
 
The season is going to be filled with two-match weekends, even some back-to-back. The Rams have to get used to the schedule, this being the first test. There are going to be tough foes awaiting them, much like the Pioneers. All of it has to be factored into how the Rams move forward.
 
Precisely, what followed after opening with a win over North Dakota.
 
“We’re just early into the season, so we’re not quite disciplined yet,” Tran said. “To face a team early in the season who is really tough, they have to believe. Denver was just better today.”
 
The Rams will get their chance to bounce back Friday at home as they host Abilene Christian, then it will be nearly two weeks before they host Missouri. Practice will be shaped to patch up what transpired against Denver.
 
Buzkova expects it will be tailored for the team, but also target what each of them needs to improve in their game. She’s pretty confident discipline will be a word they hear often.
 
“Discipline is when it’s not going your way, you try to find a different way. I feel that’s what we were missing today, finding whatever,” she said. “I’m going to include myself, being more disciplined every point. We might have been a little tired from yesterday, but that could have been helped by staying focused on every point and it could have been better.
 
“I’m sure for everyone practice is going to be different. Getting into match play, I feel we’re getting better, but we’ll focus on some things. Probably more consistency and getting into your strengths; using them more. Mental work, too, because that’s important.”