University of Houston Athletics
Tennis Opens 2007 Season with Three-Match Homestand
1/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Jan. 25, 2007
HOUSTON - The University of Houston tennis team opens the 2007 season with a trio of matches at Hoff Courts this weekend on the UH campus.
The Cougars take on Louisiana Tech and Lee College Friday at 10am and 2pm, respectively. Houston concludes the weekend at 11am, Sunday against Stephen F. Austin.
"Everyone on the team is excited to get the spring season underway," head coach John Severance said. "You're starting a brand new season with brand new opportunities. We're undefeated as of right now, and that's always a good thing."
Houston also brings an 18-match home winning streak into the weekend that dates back to the 2005 season. The Cougars are coming off a 13-0 mark at Hoff Courts last season, its first undefeated season at home since the 1990 campaign.
"We plan on protecting that for as long as we can," Severance said. "We're going to take it one match at a time and hopefully we'll get to 21 by the end of the weekend."
Severance is pleased with how his squad is coming along heading into the season opener.
"I'm happy with the Top Three of our singles lineup," Severance said. "Loli (Gomez), Leila (Salek) and Anna (Djananova) are striking the ball very well. Those three are a much stronger Top Three than we've had in years past."
Severance also is excited after solidifying another doubles pair in Sonja Nikolic and Rebecca Franzi to join Gomez and Salek.
"The two of them (Nikolic and Franzi) played well at times during the fall season," Severance said. "They both have a strong serve and can volley. They just weren't doing the right thing at the right time on the court. They have learned, and if they continue to execute, they will be a force to be reckoned with."
Admission to Hoff Courts is free all weekend.
