University of Houston Athletics
Friday, March 15
Houston, Texas
Noon
University of Houston
vs
Texas
Photo by: Joe Buvid
PREVIEW: Houston Hosts #7 Texas and #21 Oklahoma
3/14/2024 6:02:00 PM | Tennis
Cougars face Longhorns at noon, Friday, and Sooners 1 p.m., Sunday
HOUSTON – The University of Houston Tennis program welcomes #7 Texas at noon, Friday, and #21 Oklahoma at 1 p.m., Sunday, at the Barbara Wallace Winston Tennis Facility.
Note: In an effort to avoid potential incoming weather in the area, Friday's match has been moved up one hour from its originally scheduled start time.
Seniors Blanca Cortijo Parreno and Laura Slisane, and sophomore Sophie Schouten lead Houston (1-9, 0-4 Big 12) in singles with three victories each. In doubles, Schouten and sophomore Sonya Kovalenko have recorded five wins for the Cougars.
No. 21 Malaika Rapolu leads the Longhorns (10-3, 3-0 Big 12) in singles with 12 wins, eight of them on court three. No. 17 Raisiya Pachkaleva and Sabrina Zeynalova pace Texas with eight doubles wins on court one.
A pair of Sooners (7-4, 2-1 Big 12) have earned nine singles wins on the season. No. 33 Julia Garcia Ruiz brings in a perfect 9-0 record, and No. 42 Dana Guzman boasts a 9-1 singles record. Garcia Ruiz and Chloe Noel lead Oklahoma with five wins in doubles action.
LAST TIME OUT
On Friday against #59 TCU, Slisane and junior Maria Dzmeshkevich gave Houston the advantage in doubles after knocking off Destinee Martins and Helena Narmont, 6-2.
The Cougars were unable to convert, dropping the match 7-0.
Despite dropping the match, 6-1, Houston captured it first point of Big 12 play when it secured the doubles point against #32 Baylor on Sunday.
Slisane and Dzemeshkevich earned their second win of the weekend when they defeated Liubov Kostenko and Lauren Little, 6-1, to give the Cougars the advantage. Schouten and Kovalenko earned their fifth doubles win when they defeated Sierra Berry and Zuzanna Kubacha, 7-6 (7-5).
SERIES VS TEXAS
Texas leads the all-time series 21-1. Houston's only victory came in 2015 when they defeated the then #52 Longhorns, 6-1, in Houston (March 7, 2015).
SERIES VS OKLAHOMA
Houston has the series edge over Oklahoma, 4-3. The last time the two teams met, the Cougars took a 7-2 decision in Houston (March 4, 2000).
HOW TO FOLLOW
A live stream for both matches can be found here. Live stats are available here.
UP NEXT
The Cougars leave Texas for the first time this season when they travel to Morgantown, West Virginia, at 5 p.m., Friday, March 22, to face the Mountaineers at the Mountaineer Tennis Courts.
The road swing continues when Houston heads to Cincinnati, Ohio at noon, Sunday, March 24, to take on the Bearcats at the Trabert-Talberet Tennis Center.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Tennis by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's very own NIL collective, and by joining the Center Court Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Tennis for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarTennis on X, formerly known as Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarTennis or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougartennis.
Note: In an effort to avoid potential incoming weather in the area, Friday's match has been moved up one hour from its originally scheduled start time.
Seniors Blanca Cortijo Parreno and Laura Slisane, and sophomore Sophie Schouten lead Houston (1-9, 0-4 Big 12) in singles with three victories each. In doubles, Schouten and sophomore Sonya Kovalenko have recorded five wins for the Cougars.
No. 21 Malaika Rapolu leads the Longhorns (10-3, 3-0 Big 12) in singles with 12 wins, eight of them on court three. No. 17 Raisiya Pachkaleva and Sabrina Zeynalova pace Texas with eight doubles wins on court one.
A pair of Sooners (7-4, 2-1 Big 12) have earned nine singles wins on the season. No. 33 Julia Garcia Ruiz brings in a perfect 9-0 record, and No. 42 Dana Guzman boasts a 9-1 singles record. Garcia Ruiz and Chloe Noel lead Oklahoma with five wins in doubles action.
LAST TIME OUT
On Friday against #59 TCU, Slisane and junior Maria Dzmeshkevich gave Houston the advantage in doubles after knocking off Destinee Martins and Helena Narmont, 6-2.
The Cougars were unable to convert, dropping the match 7-0.
Despite dropping the match, 6-1, Houston captured it first point of Big 12 play when it secured the doubles point against #32 Baylor on Sunday.
Slisane and Dzemeshkevich earned their second win of the weekend when they defeated Liubov Kostenko and Lauren Little, 6-1, to give the Cougars the advantage. Schouten and Kovalenko earned their fifth doubles win when they defeated Sierra Berry and Zuzanna Kubacha, 7-6 (7-5).
SERIES VS TEXAS
Texas leads the all-time series 21-1. Houston's only victory came in 2015 when they defeated the then #52 Longhorns, 6-1, in Houston (March 7, 2015).
SERIES VS OKLAHOMA
Houston has the series edge over Oklahoma, 4-3. The last time the two teams met, the Cougars took a 7-2 decision in Houston (March 4, 2000).
HOW TO FOLLOW
A live stream for both matches can be found here. Live stats are available here.
UP NEXT
The Cougars leave Texas for the first time this season when they travel to Morgantown, West Virginia, at 5 p.m., Friday, March 22, to face the Mountaineers at the Mountaineer Tennis Courts.
The road swing continues when Houston heads to Cincinnati, Ohio at noon, Sunday, March 24, to take on the Bearcats at the Trabert-Talberet Tennis Center.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Tennis by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's very own NIL collective, and by joining the Center Court Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Tennis for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarTennis on X, formerly known as Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarTennis or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougartennis.
– UHCougars.com –
Players Mentioned
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