The Colorado College women's tennis team opened its 2024 season on Saturday by splitting a pair of matches in Albuquerque, N.M.
 
The Tigers opened the day with an exciting 4-3 victory over Western New Mexico. CC took the doubles point after Kala Komanduri and Avery Hickman won the No. 1 match, 7-6(5) over Livia Leite and Mann-Ning Li, and the No. 3 match by default since WMNU had only five players.
 
Therefore, CC took a 2-0 lead with a default win at No. 6 singles, then Christina Heffron made it 3-0 with a 6-0, 7-5 victory over An Montero Villegas at the No. 3 position. After Gigi Jensen dropped the No. 4 match, 6-4, 6-1, to Andreea Arnautu at No. 5, Lindsay Popeo clinched the match with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 win over Gabriella Blumberg at No. 4, while Komanduri and Hickman lost in three sets at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
 
In the second match, Division I New Mexico swept all nine matches, including all six singles contests in straight sets, en route to a 7-0 victory. Komanduri and Hickman dropped the No. 1 doubles match, 6-2, to Hsuan Huang and Maria Sodre, while the Lobos won each of the other two matches by a 6-0 score.
 
Komanduri won the most games in singles play for the Tigers, falling to O'Connor, 6-2, 6-1.
 
The Tigers return to action on Saturday, Feb. 10, against Seward Community College at the Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs.
 
 
Colorado College 4, Western New Mexico 3
Feb. 3, 2024
Albuquerque, NM
 
Doubles

1. Kala Komanduri / Avery Hickman (CC) def. Livia Leite / Mann-Ning Li, 7-6(5)
2. An Montero Villegas / Gabriella Blumberg (WNM) def. Gigi Jensen / Emmy Winter, 6-3
3. Lindsay Popeo / Christina Heffron (CC) won by default

 
Singles

1. Livia Leite (WNM) def. Kala Komanduri, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5
2. Mann-Ning Li (WNM) def. Avery Hickman, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Christina Heffron (CC) def. An Montero Villegas, 6-0, 7-5
4. Lindsay Popeo (CC) def. Gabriella Blumberg, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
5. Andreea Arnautu (WNM) def. Gigi Jensen, 6-4, 6-1
6. Emmy Winter (CC) won by default

 
 
Univ. of New Mexico 7, Colorado College 0
Feb. 3, 2024
Albuquerque, NM
 
Doubles

1. Hsuan Huang / Maria Sodre (UNM) def. Kala Komanduri / Avery Hickman, 6-2
2. Maud Vandeputte / Bente Vandeputte (UNM) def. Gigi Jensen / Emmy Winter, 6-0
3. Leonie Hoppe / Sarah O'Connor (UNM) def. Lindsay Popeo / Christina Heffron, 6-0

 
Singles

1. Sarah O'Connor (UNM) def. Kala Komanduri, 6-2, 6-1
2. Hsuan Huang (UNM) def. Avery Hickman, 6-0, 6-1
3. Maud Vandeputte (UNM) def. Christina Heffron, 6-1, 6-1
4. Leonie Hoppe (UNM) def. Lindsay Popeo, 6-0, 6-0
5. Bente Vandeputte (UNM) def. Gigi Jensen, 6-0, 6-2
6. Maria Sodre (UNM) def. Emmy Winter, 6-2, 6-0