University of Houston Athletics
Tennis Plays Strong on Day One at Pepsi Challenge
10/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Oct. 28, 2006
Lafayette, La. - Loli Gomez and Vicky Simpson each tallied a pair of wins Friday as the University of Houston tennis team opened day one of the Pepsi Challenge on the Louisiana-Lafayette campus.
The Cougars had to battle weather delays that pushed the start of the tournament back into the afternoon and kept playing going well into the evening. Gomez notched two straight-set wins, dropping only six games along the way to the semifinals of the black singles flight.
"Loli is back to playing a solid brand of high percentage tennis," head coach John Severance said. "She knows that she can win this tournament and it's showing in her game. She was able to count on all of her weapons today."
Simpson moved into the quarterfinals of the white singles flight, capping her day with a three-set win over My-Hang Nguyen of Arkansas State. She emerged with a dominant 6-1 performance in the final set.
Anna Djananova, Sonja Nikolic and Rebecca Franzi split matches in their respective flights. The trio will have consolation matches Saturday, while D'Ondra McGee is still alive in the red singles flight, picking up a 6-4, 6-2 opening round win.
"I was proud of Anna's play today even though she lost her quarterfinal match," Severance said. "She stepped up to the competition today against Breda Kovac from Southeastern Louisiana, who is a well-respected opponent in our region."
The Cougars return to the courts Saturday morning at 8:30am.
"I want us to continue to go out and play our game tomorrow," Severance said. We need to compete hard win, lose or draw."
Black Singles Flight
First Round
Gomez (UH) d. Devarak (Alcorn State) - (6-0, 6-1)
Djananova (UH) d. Stage (Louisiana-Monroe) - (7-5, 6-0)
Second Round
Gomez (UH) d. Velhovska (Southeastern Louisiana) - (6-3, 6-2)
Kovac (Southeastern Louisiana) d. Djananova (UH) - (7-6, 6-3)
White Singes Flight
First Round
Simpson (UH) d. Smolnikova (Stephen F. Austin) - (7-6, 6-2)
Franzi (UH) d. Arrondo (Louisiana-Monroe) - (3-6, 7-6, 6-3)
Van den Berg (Northwester State) d. Starratt (UH) - (4-6, 6-2, 6-3)
Minic (Arkansas State) d. Nikolic (UH) - (6-4, 6-3)
Second Round
Simpson (UH) d. Nguyen (Arkansas State) - (6-2, 1-6, 6-1)
Cheminska (Arkansas State) d. Franzi (UH) - (4-6, 7-5, 6-1)
Consolation
Nikolic (UH) d. Tran (Louisiana Tech) - Default
Branker (Arkansas State) d. Starratt (UH) - (7-6, 6-2)
Red Singles Flight
First Round
McGee (UH) d. Burlet (Louisiana-Monroe) - (6-4, 6-2)
Black Doubles Flight
First Round
Cheminska/Branker (Arkansas State) d. Gomez/Djananova (UH) - (8-5)
Nikolic/Simpson (UH) Bye
White Doubles Flight
First Round
Franzi/McGee (UH) d. Burlet (ULM)/Minic (Arkansas State) - (8-2)
Players Mentioned
