University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
Northern Arizona
Tennis Steamrolls Northern Arizona
3/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
March 16, 2006
PHOENIX, Ariz. - The No. 67 University of Houston tennis team started its Arizona roadtrip with a convincing 6-1 victory against Northern Arizona Thursday afternoon at the Phoenix Tennis Center.
The match served as a homecoming for seniors Kami Miller and Sarah Reimer as well as head coach John Severance.
"We had a lot of support with family and fans on our end which made it feel like a home match for us to a certain extent," head coach John Severance said. "I knew it was important to our seniors and to me. It's close to my heart to lead a team back to my home state."
The Cougars (12-2) won its sixth consecutive match and is off to its best start since the 1989-90 season when Houston won its first 13 matches.
After splitting the first two doubles matches, the No. 50 ranked doubles pair of Kami Miller and Yolandi Terblanche was down 7-3. The duo stormed back to win six consecutive games clinching the point 9-7 for the Cougars.
"The biggest difference was even down, Kami and Yolandi believed that they were going to comeback and win the match," Severance said. "I was proud of our team to be able to handle to pressure in a situation like that."
Kami Miller notched a strong 6-2, 6-1 win in the No. 4 slot pushing the Houston lead to 2-0. Miller is now seven wins away from moving into No. 7 all-time in career singles victories.
The Cougars went up 3-0 as Brianna Bateup picked up a 6-4, 6-2 victory at the top of the lineup.
Northern Arizona stayed alive when Regan Newman defeated Tiffany McLaughlin 6-0, 6-2 in the No. 6 hole.
Loli Gomez clinched the match with a strong 6-2 second set after winning the first set in a tiebreak at No. 2 singles, while Vicky Simpson and Sonja Nikolic closed at the match with a pair of straight-set victories.
After slumping a little bit, Sonja is starting to play better and better tennis" Severance said. "That's a very contagious feeling and from a mental standpoint that's huge." The Cougars return to the courts facing off against No. 12 Arizona State. First serve against the Sun Devils is on tap for 1pm.
"I keep telling the girls that pressure is our friend," Severance said. "We're really excited for the opportunity to play an elite program from an elite tennis conference. We're going in there with a nothing to lose attitude."
No. 67 Houston 6, Northern Arizona 1
Doubles
No. 1 - Porter/Schurr (NAU) d. Gomez/Nikolic (UH) (8-5)
No. 2 - Miller/Terblanche (UH) d. Schmandt/McClelland (NAU) (9-7)
No. 3 - Bateup/Simpson (UH) d. Newman/S. Pinchbeck (NAU) (8-2)
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles
No. 1 - Bateup (UH) d. McClelland (NAU) (6-4, 6-2)
No. 2 - Gomez (UH) d. Schmandt (NAU) (7-6, 6-2)
No. 3 - Nikolic (UH) d. Schurr (NAU) (6-2, 6-4)
No. 4 - Miller (UH) d. Porter (NAU) (6-2, 6-1)
No. 5 - Simpson (UH) d. S. Pinchbeck (NAU) (7-6, 6-2)
No. 6 - Newman (NAU) McLauglin (UH)(6-0, 6-2)
Order of Finish: 4, 1, 6, 2, 5, 3
Players Mentioned
