University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
@ Furman
Tennis Suffers First Loss
2/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Feb. 5, 2005
The Houston tennis team suffered its first defeat of the 2005 season as the Cougars fell 6-1 to Furman on Friday afternoon.
Despite the 6-1 score, the Cougars were within striking distance and had their chances to come away with a victory. However, the play of five returning athletes and the experience of a team one year removed from an NCAA Tournament berth, was too much for the Cougars to overcome.
With the loss the Cougars fall to 1-1 on the season while the Lady Paladins improve to 1-1.
"Our team played some tough matches today," said Houston first-year head coach John Severance. "We had our chance, but in the end their experience won out."
Furman started off the match by winning the No. 1 and the No. 3 spots in doubles while senior Biljana Dimovska and junior Yolandi Terblanche claimed the No. 2 doubles.
Down 1-0 heading into singles play, Dimovska gave the Cougars a lift by knocking off the Lady Paladins' No. 1 player in Mary Neill Hagood with a 6-4, 6-4 match win.
Freshman Brianna Bateup came up short in at the No. 3 singles position as she nearly forced a third set before falling 6-3, 7-5 to Caroline Bentley.
At the No. 4 position junior Kami Miller fell in her first set to Marti Morris but rebounded with a 6-4 win in the second set to force a third. However, Miller wasn't able to hold on an dropped the match 6-2 to Morris.
The No. 5 spot was a battle between Houston junior Yolandi Terblanche and Jacqueline Eckert. The first set went out in a 7-6 (4) duel before Eckert pulled out the win. The second set also went Eckert's way to give her a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win.
Houston will stay out on the road as they travel to Georgia State to face the Panthers on Sunday afternoon at 10:00 am (EDT).
Houston v. Furman (February 4, 2005)
Singles
1. Biljana Dimovoka (H) def. Mary Neill Hagood (FUR)6-4, 6-4
2. Shannon Moore (FUR) def. Diana Martin (H) 6-4, 6-0
3. Caroline Bentley (FUR) def. Brianna Bateup (H) 6-3, 7-5
4. Marti Morris (FUR) def. Kami Miller (H) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
5. Jacqueline Eckert (FUR) def. Yolandi Terblanche (H) 7-6(4), 6-4
6. Lauren Osborne (FUR) def. Tiffany McLoughlin (H) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles
1. Bentley/Hagood (FUR) def. Martin/Miller (H) 8-0
2. Dimovska/Terblanche (H) def. Eckert/Morris (FUR) 8-2
3. Moore/Osborne (FUR) def. Bateup/Gumbs (H) 8-2
