Courtesy of Colorado State Athletics –
Program reaches conference semis for third time.
By: Mike Brohard
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – When dinner was finished Wednesday evening, the waitress at the Pin Kaow restaurant, just across the Rainbow Boulevard from the team hotel, brought out fortune cookies.
As each player and coach on the team opened them up and read the messages, they all turned them into a positive message about the next day’s match against rival Wyoming. When Luana Avelar broke open her cookie and read it aloud, she felt in the moment it was particularly written for her.
“I read mine and I don’t remember exactly, but it was about controlling my attitude and composing myself,” Avelar said. “I made that imposing my game and trusting myself. I did that in singles and doubles.”
In facing rival Wyoming for the second time in less than a week, the Rams were going to have to do something different in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Tournament to reverse the outcome, a 4-2 loss this past Saturday at the Fort Collins Country Club.
Avelar lost that day to Violetta Borodina in straight sets. Wednesday at the Darling Tennis Center, she pulled out two tough sets in a 7-5, 7-6 (6) victory, falling to her knees after the final point as it clinched a 4-2 victory, advancing the team to the semifinals for just the third time in program history.
Earlier she had paired with Logan Voeks to win at the No. 3 spot, 6-3, helping the Rams clinch the doubles point, just as they did the match prior, the only difference being the Rams’ other victory came at the No. 2 spot, not at the top two.
Also different was the match was outdoors, six courts going at one time. That meant Viktoryia Zhadzinskaya, who didn’t have a chance to finish her match last time, was able to get on and off the court fast with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Adel Ismagulova at No. 6.
“Everything was different. The conference tournament is different in itself,” CSU coach Mai-Ly Tran said. “There’s a lot at stake, this is the end, so it’s rise up or go home. Being outdoors and all playing at the same time, knowing the matchups, I think we were the stronger team today.”
The match stood at 3-2 for Colorado State after Radka Buzkova’s 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Noesjka Brink left two matches on the court. Zara Lennon at the top spot had just split sets with Sophie Zehender, as they did in their first meeting.
At the same time, Avelar had just won a game to force a tiebreak in the second set, quickly winning the first two points. It was a lead she pushed to 6-4 at one point, only to have Borodina fight off two match points.
On the adjoining court, her teammates nervously watched it play out.
“I had so much trust in her because I know how much she wanted it. I knew her motivation was to put the sticker on the draw,” Buzkova said. “She’s such a fighter and she wanted to win so bad. She did a great job of not getting frustrated. She didn’t win the two set points she had, but still she was composed. It was an unbelievable performance for her.”
She regained the edge, then served for the win. And when Borodina put a return into the net, Avelar fell to her knees as her teammates rushed the court.
“Honestly, I don’t even remember how I won that. I was just playing the point and just doing the right thing shot by shot,” Avelar said. “I’m not giving any shot up. I don’t know … I pushed her to the side, and she missed on the run, and I was like, I just clinched. I’ve never had that type of emotion before. I’ve clinched before, but it was never like this. The team, we were so focused on beating the Cowgirls and I had just lost to that girl less than a week ago. I said, no way I’m losing again.”
The match epitomized the maturation the sophomore has shown in her second season, one in which she started the season lower in the order and has since solidified the No. 3 spot. Someone who has always played with passion has learned not to let it overwhelm her when moments in a match head south.
A desire to change the outcome against one foe is easier after imploring the practice internally.
“Instead of focusing on beating her, I focused on the yellow ball and how I could impose my game and play the way I wanted to play. Dictate play,” Avelar said. “I was focusing on this is mine, I’m going to take action and take charge. I just had to make her feel the pressure.”
Tran has seen it all play out not just for Avelar, but for her team. The season has been a series of tough losses and rough moments as the Rams had not won back-to-back matches for a month and a day, to be precise.
As Avelar’s dessert the night before suggested, she’s one tough cookie, which Tran expected.
“I knew it was going to be really tough to beat Lu twice. I knew she would be extremely determined to beat her opponent today,” Tran said. “She just showed even another level she has. I am proud of her. She stepped up in doubles and singles today.”
Colorado State is 11-11 on the season, and this is the second time Tran has led the program to the semifinals in her three seasons. As in the previous two trips, the opponent is San Diego State, with the Rams looking for their first finals berth. Friday’s match begins at 12 p.m. (MT).
The Rams feel ready, especially now. They feel ready for anything.
“It’s crazy. It’s one of the most amazing memories for me in my career,” Buzkova said. “We knew Wyoming was a good team; We lost to them a week ago. We wanted it so badly, and those emotions we experienced today, that’s something I’m going to remember the rest of my life. I’m never going to experience that again. Today was an example. It was a perfect match we can be proud of and enjoy the win and get ready tomorrow.”
Which meant a good night’s sleep, and Lennon collecting the team laundry so they can all wear the same uniforms for the third consecutive match. One does not mess with what works.
Soon after, the call went in to Pin Kaow, reserving a table for 13 for the third night in a row.
Revenge had been served in the afternoon. Up next was Thai Fried Rice.
“Some of us are superstitious, so yes,” Tran said. “We’re going to keep things going. Whatever works.”
Some may make fun of superstition, but those who hold true just don’t care. The way Buzkova sees it, the messages from those cookies helped the team continue a recent trend of improved positivity. Small things, she said, make a big difference.
Just ask Avelar.
On the other side of each fortune was a Chinese word and what it meant. Someone with the team had the word “Lù,” her nickname. That felt like a good omen to her, too, so she took it and placed it under her clear phone case.
A rather fortunate message if you ask her.
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– STALWART –
