University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
ITA Regionals
Houston complete successful start to ITA Regional
10/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Oct. 16, 2009
Houston, Texas. - The University of Houston tennis team started strongly on day one of the ITA Regional tournament in Waco, Texas, with Elena Kazakova, Joanna Kacprzyk and Maja Kazimieruk all reaching the final round of qualifying.
Junior Elena Kazakova won both of her singles matches, first defeating Texas' Maya Zein-El-Abdin, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 and then moved on to defeat Reetta Raty from UTPA, 7-6, 6-4.
Junior Joanna Kacprzyk was seeded No. 6 in qualifying and therefore received a bye in the first round, she then went on to defeat Manijee Ashrafi from Lamar, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. With a No. 2 seeding, freshman Maja Kazimieruk also received a bye before beating North Texas' Ashley Akin, 5-7, 7-6, 6-0.
Senior Neila Starratt and junior Laura Ring both won their first matches of the day, with Starratt winning 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 over Texas State's Nyssa Peele, and Ring defeating UTPA's Megan Bedeau, 6-4, 6-4. Both could not continue their success against two Texas Tech opponents as Starratt was defeated by Lorena Aviles, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 and Ring lost to Kerryn Potgieter, 6-3, 1-6, 6-0.
Earlier in the day, freshman Alexandra Pickerill had lost to UTEP's Carolina DeLuca, 6-0, 6-2. Qualifying with resume tomorrow morning, with the three remaining Cougars hoping to join freshman Bryony Hunter in the main draw, which will take place tomorrow afternoon.
Players Mentioned
