University of Houston
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Kansas
Houston Drops Heartbreaker to Kansas, 4-3
2/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
LAWRENCE, Kan. - The No. 49 University of Houston tennis team nearly rallied from an early deficit but could not overcome Kansas on Saturday afternoon in a 4-3 loss. The Cougars are now 4-4 on the season, while Kansas improves to 3-4.
"Hats off to Kansas," said Houston Head Coach Patrick Sullivan. "They were tough in the big moments, and they deserved to win today."
Houston won the first doubles match but could not secure the point. Despoina Vogasari and Elena Kordolaimi dropped Maria Jose Cardona and Maria Belen Ludueña, 6-4, on the top court. But Mina Markovic and Maria Cardenas fell on court three, 6-4, to Rachel McNeely and Summer Collins, and the Jayhawks took the point when Madison Harrison and Smith Hinton edged Rocio Martin and Tina Rupert, 7-6, in the second flight.
No. 24 Vogasari started the singles matches with a resounding 6-0, 6-3 victory over Cardona on the top court, but Harrison of Kansas was the next to notch a point with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Martin in the third flight. No. 90 Kordolaimi was the next to answer, tying the match at 2-all with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Ludueña on the second court.
Houston retook the lead when court five went final, as Markovic was a 6-4, 6-3 winner over McNeely. But the Jayhawks won the last two points to take the match. Hinton outlasted Rupert on the fourth court, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5, and Collins clinched the match with a 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Cardenas in flight six.
Despite the loss, Houston's nationally-ranked Greek duo each improved to 7-0 in the spring. Vogasari is now 18-3 overall, and Kordolaimi is 15-4 with a career-best 10-match winning streak.
The win is the fourth straight 4-3 victory for Kansas over the Cougars in what continues to be an incredibly close series.
 | RESULTS |
SINGLES
1. No. 24 Despoina Vogasari (UH) def. Maria Jose Cardona (KU) 6-0, 6-3
2. No. 90 Elena Kordolaimi (UH) def. Maria Belen Ludueña (KU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Madison Harrison (KU) def. Rocio Martin (UH) 6-1, 6-4
4. Smith Hinton (KU) def. Tina Rupert (UH) 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
5. Mina Markovic (UH) def. Rachel McNeely (KU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Summer Collins (KU) def. Maria Cardenas (UH) 1-6, 6-4, 7-5
DOUBLES
1. Despoina Vogasari/Elena Kordolaimi (UH) def. Maria Jose Cardona/Maria Belen Ludueña (KU) 6-4
2. Madison Harrison/Smith Hinton (KU) def. Rocio Martin/Tina Rupert (UH) 7-6
3. Rachel McNeely/Summer Collins (KU) def. Mina Markovic/Maria Cardenas (UH) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,3,2,5,4,6)
| UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS |
Houston will host Missouri on Friday, Feb. 20 at 3 pm before welcoming No. 45 Utah two days later. Both matches will take place at the Houston Country Club, and live scoring for both contests is available at UHCougars.com/TennisScores .
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