April 15, 2008

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Northern Colorado's three-match winning streak came to a crashing halt Tuesday against Colorado State.

The Bears entered the contest fresh off a sweep through Utah State, Weber State and Idaho State last weekend. But Colorado State quickly put to rest any thoughts of extending that streak to four with a 7-0 victory.

The Rams (7-10) had a relatively easy waltz through the doubles competition -- though the No. 3 match wasn't decided until a 7-3 tiebreaker in their favor -- and the singles matches featured much of the same.

Tabatha Knop and Manuela Santos entered the match with a 14-4 record at No. 1 doubles for the Bears (7-13), but the Rams' top duo of Lauren Strasburger and Hilary Tyler were a touch better this day, taking down Knop and Santos 8-5.

In that hotly contested No. 3 doubles match, Northern Colorado's Tiffany Knop and Hannah LaForest fell to Colorado State's Sarah Seltsam and Kirsten Stople, 9-8 (7-3).

The Bears managed to keep a few of the singles matches close, but the Rams won them all in straight sets.

At the No. 1 spot, Tabatha Knop fell to Tyler 6-1, 7-6 (9-7); at No. 2, Tiffany Knop lost to Laura Neal 7-6 (7-1), 6-1; and at the No. 5 spot, Northern Colorado's Jodi Ciarvella came up short against the Rams' Caitlin Fluegge, 7-5, 7-5.