University of Houston
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UTEP
Cougars Beat UTEP 4-3 in Thriller
2/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
EL PASO -- The Houston Cougar Women's Tennis team defeated UTEP 4-3 in its first road contest of the 2017 spring season, in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Houston fell behind early in the match after the Miners claimed the doubles point. A solid doubles team all year, UTEP picked up a 6-1 win from Vivienne Kulicke and Milou Pietersz over Tsveta Dimitrova and Cristina Rovira on court 1, before Raven Bennett and Daphne Visscher decided the point with a 6-4 win over Lauren Alter and Sveva Mazzari on court 3.
Rovira put the Cougars on the board for the first time with a straight-set win on court 3 over Duda Santos. Rovira cruised to a 6-2 victory in set one, before responding with another 6-2 win in set two to clinch the match. With the win, Rovira improved to 3-2 on the season.
UTEP reclaimed the lead with a straight-set win for Kulicke over Dimitrova. Kulicke won the first set 6-4 before clinching the point 6-2 in set two to make the score 2-1 UTEP.
The Cougars would go on to pick up back-to-back singles wins to claim their first lead in the match at 3-2.
Freshman Lauren Alter swung the momentum in Houston's favor, picking up her second win of the season. Alter battled Lois Wagenvoort in two tough sets to eventually win 6-4, 6-4. On court 6, junior Ana Glumac gave Houston its first lead of the contest with a win over Bennet. Glumac won her match in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 to give Houston the lead at 3-2. The win for Glumac is her second this season.
UTEP evened the score in one of the closest matches of the day on court 2. Pietersz took a 1-0 lead in the match against Mazzari with a 6-0 win in set one. However, Mazzari was able to answer with a 6-3 win in set two to even the match. A back-and-forth affair in the third set, Pietersz was able to close out the match with a 6-4 win in set three to even the score at 3 apiece.
The overall match came down to court 5, where Constandena Nicolaou and Daphne Visscher were locked in a heated match. Nicolaou struck first with a 6-4 victory in set one, while Visscher responded with a 7-5 set-two win to force a decisive third set. With the match on the line, Nicolaou jumped out to an early lead in the third set, and held on to win 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to pick up the win for Houston.
UP NEXT FOR HOUSTON
Houston continues west to Las Cruces, N.M., to face New Mexico State on Sunday. First serve against the Aggies is set for 11 a.m., CT.
JOIN THE CENTER COURT CLUB
The Cougars are proud to introduce the Center Court Club, a restricted-giving program that directly impacts the needs of the University of Houston Tennis program. Gifts to the Center Court Club provide financial support directly to the University of Houston Tennis program for needs beyond the program's operating budget. Revenue generated from the Center Court Club is used at the discretion of the head coach for program enhancements. Membership in the Center Court Club is annual and requires a minimum $100 gift.
LEVELS OF GIVING
WINNER
For a minimum gift of $100, supporters receive a team poster and a signed tennis ball.
ACE
For a minimum gift of $500, supporters receive a team poster and a signed tennis ball, private practice invitation and a stadium blanket.
US OPEN
For a minimum gift of $1,000, supporters receive a team poster and a signed tennis ball, private practice invitation, a stadium blanket, fleece jacket and a lesson from the coach.
GRAND SLAM
For a minimum gift of $2,500, supporters receive a team poster and a signed tennis ball, private practice invitation, a stadium blanket, fleece jacket, a lesson from the coach and a group lesson from the coaching staff.
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Players Mentioned
