University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Prepare To Host Conference USA Championships
4/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
April 16, 2008
HOUSTON, Texas - The University of Houston women's tennis team is hoping that history repeats itself, when the Cougars play host to the Conference USA Women's Tennis Championships at the John E. Hoff Courts beginning Thursday morning and running through Sunday, April 20.
Ten years ago on the same hardcourts, the Cougars captured their only C-USA title, sweeping past Southern Miss, Marquette and UAB for the league crown. The 1998 tournament was the first and only time Houston has played host to the conference tournament prior to this season.
Since winning the '98 title, the Cougars have finished third and fourth on three separate occasions a piece. In its 14 seasons in the Southwest Conference, Houston never won a league title, and its highest finish was a runner-up spot in 1990.
The #6 seed Cougars will square off against #11 UTEP tomorrow at 2 pm. If the Cougars take out the Miners, they will face #3 seed and cross-town rival Rice on Friday at 2 pm. The semifinals are set for 10 am and 2 pm on Saturday, with the championship slated for 10 am on Sunday.
Houston is 15-10 on the season, even though it dropped all three of its matches against league opponents (Southern Miss, SMU and Tulsa.) The Cougars are led by senior Leila Salek, who is 16-6 on the season, and junior Vicky Simpson, who has tallied a 16-7 stanza in 2008. Transfer Lynley Wasson also has posted an impressive season in her debut with the Cougars, compiling a 15-8 mark in her head-to-head matches.
