Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, September 19
Fort Collins, CO
All Day
Colorado State
vs
Jon Messick Invitational
Feeling Good About the Journey Starting
9/19/2026 3:28:00 PM | Women's Tennis
McGinty pairs with Lizarazo for first college win
Friday was a big day.
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It was the end of a long, trying academic week. The day also represented a milestone for Zaria McGinty. Officially, the freshman played her first collegiate tennis matches. No long was she just part of the Colorado State roster, her name was on the stat sheet.
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Maybe not the way she wanted. She dropped a doubles match. Then a singles one. But she had played, and she exited the CSU Tennis Complex with a smile on her face and the first day of the Jon Messick Invitational in the books.
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"I knew that I was coming in as a freshman playing college tennis for the first time. You've got to take it one point at a time, one step at a time, and just build every time you get out on the court," McGinty said. "I knew it's the next level up, so I just knew I had to be prepared for it."
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Saturday morning, she and Diana Lizarazo returned to the courts as a tandem, posting a 6-2 victory against Johanna Roggenkamp and Chaeyule Kang of Air Force.
Â
A big milestone. The first win, and the journey not only has begun, it feels real.
Â
Steps taken in all directions, the most important maybe being the mental strides, always trying to keep the momentum forward.
Â
Lizarazo has been there herself, though a tad different. She showed up for the spring campaign at midseason, was on campus for a couple of weeks and then directly into the lineup. No buildup in the fall, straight into the fire and playing indoors.
Â
The advice she'd give her teammate is use fall to her advantage.
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"Last year I had my first fall, and I think I didn't embrace it as I should have. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself," Lizarazo said. "I just wanted to like win all the time.
Â
"It's fall, know that you're preparing for something that's going to come in the future and not now. Like this kind of tournament, I think they're more really practice tournaments. Expose yourself to a tournament environment and match play more than like actually winning.
Â
"I would just say that use it as preparation more than just results."
Â
It was the one match the Rams would win in the brackets, though Stella Morgan and Annika Planinsek, building back from ailments, won condensed singles matches.
Â
Those days happen, so celebrate when you can. McGinty did.
Â
"It felt great. And it felt great to do it with D," McGinty said. "I think coming in and playing with Dee right away was a blessing because she's so knowledgeable with Devils. Like we're out there, and she's coaching me at every point, telling me I should be here, here. So that's really nice.
Â
"She's just telling me certain times like I need to be here. When I tell you to serve here, you move here. Like just placement of where I should be at and what to do in certain situations."
Â
Personality wise, they are a good fit. McGinty is eager to learn from her older teammates, especially when it comes to sharing a court.
Â
Just the type of partner Lizarazo likes.
Â
"I like to lead in doubles. That's how I would put it," Lizarazo said grinning. "It really depends who I'm playing with. There's people that are really good listeners; I would consider myself a good listener as well, but sometimes when I can kind of play however I want to play and my partner is willing to follow that, I like to be in control. It's fun, and I like it. I like the tactical part of it.
Â
"I think doubles really gives me the opportunity of doing that, and especially playing with Z, I like to share that."
Â
Best part was they shared a big moment together, one they hope is just the start of things to come. For the Rams, the season really feels underway. For McGinty, a career, leaving the complex the same way she did the day before.
Â
Smiling, knowing there's a promise of good things to come.
Play resumes Sunday at 9 a.m. with championship and third-place matches.
Â
Â
It was the end of a long, trying academic week. The day also represented a milestone for Zaria McGinty. Officially, the freshman played her first collegiate tennis matches. No long was she just part of the Colorado State roster, her name was on the stat sheet.
Â
Maybe not the way she wanted. She dropped a doubles match. Then a singles one. But she had played, and she exited the CSU Tennis Complex with a smile on her face and the first day of the Jon Messick Invitational in the books.
Â
"I knew that I was coming in as a freshman playing college tennis for the first time. You've got to take it one point at a time, one step at a time, and just build every time you get out on the court," McGinty said. "I knew it's the next level up, so I just knew I had to be prepared for it."
Â
Saturday morning, she and Diana Lizarazo returned to the courts as a tandem, posting a 6-2 victory against Johanna Roggenkamp and Chaeyule Kang of Air Force.
Â
A big milestone. The first win, and the journey not only has begun, it feels real.
Â
Steps taken in all directions, the most important maybe being the mental strides, always trying to keep the momentum forward.
Â
Lizarazo has been there herself, though a tad different. She showed up for the spring campaign at midseason, was on campus for a couple of weeks and then directly into the lineup. No buildup in the fall, straight into the fire and playing indoors.
Â
The advice she'd give her teammate is use fall to her advantage.
Â
"Last year I had my first fall, and I think I didn't embrace it as I should have. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself," Lizarazo said. "I just wanted to like win all the time.
Â
"It's fall, know that you're preparing for something that's going to come in the future and not now. Like this kind of tournament, I think they're more really practice tournaments. Expose yourself to a tournament environment and match play more than like actually winning.
Â
"I would just say that use it as preparation more than just results."
Â
It was the one match the Rams would win in the brackets, though Stella Morgan and Annika Planinsek, building back from ailments, won condensed singles matches.
Â
Those days happen, so celebrate when you can. McGinty did.
Â
"It felt great. And it felt great to do it with D," McGinty said. "I think coming in and playing with Dee right away was a blessing because she's so knowledgeable with Devils. Like we're out there, and she's coaching me at every point, telling me I should be here, here. So that's really nice.
Â
"She's just telling me certain times like I need to be here. When I tell you to serve here, you move here. Like just placement of where I should be at and what to do in certain situations."
Â
Personality wise, they are a good fit. McGinty is eager to learn from her older teammates, especially when it comes to sharing a court.
Â
Just the type of partner Lizarazo likes.
Â
"I like to lead in doubles. That's how I would put it," Lizarazo said grinning. "It really depends who I'm playing with. There's people that are really good listeners; I would consider myself a good listener as well, but sometimes when I can kind of play however I want to play and my partner is willing to follow that, I like to be in control. It's fun, and I like it. I like the tactical part of it.
Â
"I think doubles really gives me the opportunity of doing that, and especially playing with Z, I like to share that."
Â
Best part was they shared a big moment together, one they hope is just the start of things to come. For the Rams, the season really feels underway. For McGinty, a career, leaving the complex the same way she did the day before.
Â
Smiling, knowing there's a promise of good things to come.
Play resumes Sunday at 9 a.m. with championship and third-place matches.
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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