PREVIEW: Tennis Opens Six-Game Homestand on Saturday

Saturday, February 7

Houston, Texas

10 AM

University of Houston

New Mexico

Photo by: Seth Monroy Photography

PREVIEW: Tennis Opens Six-Game Homestand on Saturday

2/6/2026 12:00:00 PM | Tennis

Watch Live Stats

Cougars face New Mexico at 10 a.m. and UTRGV at 2:30 p.m., Saturday

HOUSTON — The University of Houston Tennis team opens a six-match homestand as it plays host to New Mexico and UTRGV in a doubleheader at the Barbara Wallace Winston Tennis Facility on Saturday.

The Cougars open the day against New Mexico at 10 a.m., before facing UTRGV at 2:30 p.m. A stream for both matches can be found here, with live stats available here.

LAST TIME OUT
The Cougars dominated their doubleheader with a pair of 4-0 wins against North Texas and UT Arlington in Denton and Arlignton, Texas, respectively.

Juniors Iva Sepa and Valeriia Krokhotina won both of their doubles matches with Krokhotina winning both of her singles matches for a perfect weekend to earn the Cougar's first Big 12 Player of the Week award.

Sepa, senior Sophie Schouten, junior Elizaveta Morozova and freshman Alexia Lavinia Puiac all collected singles victories.

ABOUT HOUSTON
Houston enters its second season under the direction of Head Coach Katarina Adamovic and returns five starters from a season ago.

Junior Valeriia Krokhotina led the Cougars with eight singles wins including five in conference play. Seniors Gabriela Cortes and Sophie Schouten posted a team-high four doubles victories, two of which were against ranked opponents.

The Cougars feature a pair of new staff members in former Missouri women's tennis head coach Chris Wootton as an assistant coach and six-time All-WAC performer Santa Strombacha as a graduate assistant.

Houston added Chems Doha Zeghlouli and Petja Drame to its roster over the summer and welcomed Alexia Lavinia Puiac in December.

The Cougars are off to their best start since 2018 at 5-0. Houston has swept its first five opponents, all on the road, for a program best.

ABOUT UTRGV
UTRGV is 1-3 on the young season with its lone victory coming against Texas A&M Kingsville.

Kristal Duke paces the Vaqueros with nine singles victories on the season. Mariia Bakhtina and Rhea Makesar own 11 doubles wins on the season.

Houston owns a 14-1 record over UTRGV with the Vaqueros winning the last meeting, 4-3 (Feb. 9, 2024). Schouten and fellow senior Gabriela Cortes each won their doubles match to help the Cougars secure the doubles point. Schouten added to the point total with a win on court three.

ABOUT NEW MEXICO
New Mexico enters the weekend with a 2-0 record with wins over Western New Mexico and CSU Pueblo.

The Cougars hold an 8-5 record with their last meeting being a 4-3 Cougar victory in Houston (March 5, 2016. Houston has lost to New Mexico on its home court just once in the 13 previous meetings.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Tennis by providing NIL opportunities 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 –