University of Houston
<b> Louisiana Tech
Tennis Rolls Past Louisiana Tech and Lee College
1/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Jan. 26, 2007
HOUSTON - The University of Houston tennis team notched a pair of convincing victories over Louisiana Tech (6-1) and Lee College (5-2) to open the 2007 campaign Friday at Hoff Courts on the UH campus.
With the victories, the Cougars extended their home winning streak to 20 matches dating back to the 2005 season.
"I'm pleased anytime we can start a season 2-0," head coach John Severance said. "I told the team not to underestimate Lee College. They are a fine junior college program that can beat many Division I teams. I'll be very surprised if they don't win the NJCAA National Championship this season. It was good for our team to face a little adversity today and come through it. That's going to make us better as a team."
Houston took care of the doubles points against Lee College as Rebecca Franzi and Sonja Nikolic set the tone with an 8-2 win at the No. 2 spot. Minutes later, the No.1 pair of Loli Gomez and Leila Salek came off the court with an 8-3 victory to clinch the point. Vicky Simpson and Anna Djananova closed out the doubles sweep, earning a hard-fought 8-5 win at the No. 3 position.
Simpson extended the Cougar lead to 2-0, picking up a 6-2, 6-1 win at the bottom of the lineup, but Lee College trimmed the deficit down to 2-1 as Kalei Gora knocked off Gomez 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 1 spot.
The two teams traded another pair of straight-set wins to make the score 3-2. Djananova recorded a 6-2, 6-1 win for the Cougars at No. 3, while Jordan McCombs corralled a 6-4, 6-0 win over Nikolic at the No. 5 slot
At the No. 2 position, Salek got a critical break after falling behind 6-5 in the opening set to force a tiebreaker. She rode the momentum to the first five points of the tiebreaker and a dominant 7-2 win.
Salek continued to put the pressure on and steamrolled her way to a 6-0 victory in the second set to secure the victory for the Cougars.
"Leila stepped it up another notch mentally with her play," Severance said. "She took full advantage of momentum and played a strong brand of high-percentage tennis in the second set."
Rebecca Franzi corralled a 6-1, 7-6 win at the No. 4 spot for the final margin of 5-2.
Houston started the day with dominant singles play against Louisiana Tech. Salek, Franzi and Simpson each stormed to 6-0, 6-0 victories, while Neila Starratt came through with a 6-2, 6-0 win at the No. 4 position.
In doubles action, Gomez and Salek came back to win five consecutive games after falling behind 6-3. Salek completed the comeback with a forehand winner up-the-line at 40-30.
"Some of our players had better days than others," Severance said. "It's early in the season, and you have to expect that. There's no doubt in my mind that our Top Four players are our strength. We still have to find a couple of players at the bottom of the lineup that want to step up."
Houston concludes its three-match homestand Sunday against Stephen F. Austin. Doubles action is slated to begin at 11am. Admission is free to Hoff Courts.
"I expect that we're going to be bumped, bruised and a little sore after today's matches," Severance said. "Our team is going to have to be ready to play and get after it."
