The University of Denver women’s tennis team began its participation in the 2026 Long Beach State Winter Invitational with a change to its original schedule. Due to delays caused by court conditions, Denver faced Cal State Northridge (CSUN) in both singles and doubles matches, instead of playing CSUN in doubles and host Long Beach State in singles as initially planned. Tournament organizers have decided that teams will now play the same opponent in both singles and doubles each day for the rest of the event.
Denver used new pairings in doubles competition. Seniors Hana Bečirovič Novak and Marley Lambert played together for only the third time, while sophomore Natálie Cinková and freshman Yunfei Cai teamed up for just their second match as partners. Seniors Claudia Martinez de Velasco and Louise Wikander, who had played together most of last season, made their debut as a pair for this season on Friday.
All six Denver players also competed in singles matches.
On Friday, Bečirovič Novak and Lambert defeated Robertson/West (CSUN) 6-0, while Martinez de Velasco and Wikander won against Dermenjyan/Harper (CSUN) 6-1. The pairing of Cai/Cinková lost to Argulles/Moratella Sanz (CSUN) 6-3.
In singles action, Louise Wikander beat Nicole West (CSUN) 6-3, 7-5; Emma Moratella Sanz (CSUN) defeated Marley Lambert 6-3, 6-2; Natálie Cinková won over Sofia Dermenjyan (CSUN) 6-4, 6-2; Hana Bečirovič Novak triumphed against Vito Solis Urdiales (CSUN) 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-4; Annette Robertson (CSUN) overcame Claudia Martinez de Velasco 6-3, 2-6, 6-4; and Yunfei Cai beat Sandra Arguelles (CSUN) 6-1, 6-1.
Denver is expected to use different lineups on Saturday when it faces Cal State Fullerton. The matches are scheduled to begin with doubles at 10 a.m. PT.
For more information about Denver’s NCAA Division I sports programs, visit https://denverpioneers.com/.
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