Women’s Tennis Opens 2021 With 5-2 Win Over Metro State

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force women's tennis opened the 2021 season with a 5-2 win over Metro State Saturday morning at the USAFA Indoor Tennis Courts.

Metro State opened with the doubles point after taking two of three. Junior Alex Kuo and freshman Isabella Flodin won at No. 2 over Brooklyn Ross/Kayla Myburgh 6-3. Senior Meredith Jones and freshman Hailey Stelse fell at No. 1 to Helena Steenberg/Gala Castillo 6-4. At No. 3, sophomore Sydney Fitch and Mebeli Becerra fell to Isabel Heras/Marie Cool 6-2.

Air Force went 5-1 in singles, winning all five matches in straight sets. Jones fell at No. 1 to Ross 7-6, 7-6. Kuo won at No. 2 over Steenberg 6-3, 6-4. Fitch won at No. 3 over Castello 6-3, 6-1.

Becerra won at No. 4 over Heras 7-6, 6-4. Stelse won at No. 5 over Myburgh 6-3, 6-4. Flodin won at No. 6 over Lilly Stienemeier 6-3, 6-3.

"After a ten and a half month wait of no competition – the team was finally on the courts," head coach Kim Gidley said. "I was not only happy to see the team play – but to see them play so well as a team. For the first match of the year against a very strong Metro State team our team came out with great energy and confidence. The doubles team of Alex Kuo and Izzy Flodin came out on fire for the doubles win at No. 2, but the Falcons fell short to secure the doubles point."

"In the singles, the team had to fight back and win four singles matches to secure the point," Gidley said. "Alex Kuo came from a 0-3 deficit for her debut at No. 2 to come back and win 6 straight games. That showed a lot of fight and discipline and helped set the tone for the rest of the singles matches. The only match to fall short for the Falcons was at no. 1 singles in a 7-6, 7-6 battle. That match by MJ could of gone either way with only one point in either set giving MJ the win. The singles was a battle in every position and it was great to see all of our freshmen come away with a singles win too."

"Getting to play this match was huge for our team," Gidley added. "This team has practiced so well during the off season – it was great to see their success on the court."

Air Force returns to action Feb. 5 at Denver.

Doubles
Helena Steenberg/Gala Castello (MSU) def. Meredith Jones/Hailey Stelse (AF) 6-4
Alex Kuo/Isabella Flodin (AF) def. Brooklyn Ross/Kayla Myburgh (MSU) 6-3
Isabel Heras/Marie Cool (AF) def. Sydney Fitch/Mebeli Becerra (AF) 6-2
Order: 3, 2, 1

Singles
Brooklyn Ross (MSU) def. Meredith Jones (AF) 7-6, 7-6
Alex Kuo (AF) def. Helena Steenberg (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
Sydney Fitch (AF) def. Gala Castello (MSU) 6-3, 6-1
Mebeli Becerra (AF) def. Isabel Heras (MSU)7-6, 6-4
Hailey Stelse (AF) def. Kayla Myburgh (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
Isabella Flodin (AF) def. Lilly Stienemeier (MSU) 6-3, 6-3
Order: 2, 3, 4, 1, 6, 5, 7

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