The Colorado College women's tennis team opened its weekend road trip to California with a hard-fought 5-4 loss to Cal Lutheran University Saturday morning in Thousand Oaks.
 
The Regals jumped out to a 3-0 lead after sweeping the doubles matches. Carmen Bufkin and Mina Ahmadi defeated Lindsay Popeo and Maddy Meister, 8-4, at the No. 1 position, Luisa Garcia and Lauren Sebastian downed Christina Heffron and Gigi Jensen, 8-6, at No. 2, while Gerda Jucys and Reya Maestas beat Malia Rivera and Elizabeth Girian, 8-2, at the No. 3 spot.
 
The Tigers roared back and nearly pulled off the comeback, winning four of the six singles matches. Popeo got things going with a 6-1, 6-3, victory over Garcia at No. 2, then Girian downed Jucys, 6-0, 7-6(3) at No. 4.
 
Rivera rallied to beat Ahmadi, 0-6, 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5 and Meister won the No. 6 match over Maestas, 6-1, 6-4. Heffron lost at No. 1 and Jensen extended the No. 3 match to three sets before falling to Sebastian, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

"We battled hard today but fell just short," head coach Anthony Weber said. "I was happy with the way we came out and played singles after falling behind 3-0."
 
The Tigers (5-11) play their final regular-season match on Sunday, April 23, against Chapman University in Orange, Calif., beginning at 10 a.m. (MT).
 
 
Cal Lutheran 5, Colorado College 4
April 22, 2023
Thousand Oaks, Calif.
 
Doubles
1. Carmen Bufkin / Mina Ahmadi (CLU) def. Lindsay Popeo / Maddy Meister, 8-4
2. Luisa Garcia / Lauren Sebastian (CLU) def. Christina Heffron / Gigi Jensen, 8-6
3. Gerda Jucys / Reya Maestas (CLU) def. Malia Rivera / Elizabeth Girian, 8-2           
 
Singles
1. Carmen Bufkin (CLU) def. Christina Heffron, 6-2, 6-1
2. Lindsay Popeo (CC) def. Luisa Garcia, 6-1, 6-3               
3. Lauren Sebastian (CLU) def. Gigi Jensen, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 
4. Elizabeth Girian (CC) def. Gerda Jucys, 6-0, 7-6(3)
5. Malia Rivera (CC) def. Mina Ahmadi, 0-6, 6-2, 6-3
6. Maddy Meister (CC) def. Reya Maestas, 6-1, 6-4