University of Houston Athletics
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UH Tennis Enjoys Solid Day at Cougar Fall Draw
11/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Nov. 5, 2010
HOUSTON - Six University of Houston women's tennis players advanced to the semifinal round of their respective flights on the opening day of the Cougar Fall Draw at John E. Hoff Courts on Friday. The Cougars combined to win nine of their 10 singles matches to kick off the last tournament of the fall season.
"I'm very pleased with how the team played today," said head coach John Severance. "We can still improve by not taking today for granted and coming out and playing even harder tomorrow. Our freshmen really stepped up their games today and Joanna (Kacprzyk) was dominant out there."
After drawing a first-round bye, Houston newcomer Giorgia Pozzan outlasted Isabelle Jonsson of UTSA by a score of 3-6, 6-0, 10-8 to enter Saturday's semifinal round. Pozzan notched her team-leading ninth win with the victory.
Sophomore Maja Kazimieruk endured a slow start to the day as she dropped the opening set to UTPA's Wanda Beguelin by a score of 1-6. Kazimieruk battled back to take the second set by a score of 6-2 and claim the third-set tiebreaker (10-7). Kazimieruk remained hot in the quarterfinal match, cruising past UTSA's Kavya Menon by a score of 6-1, 6-0.
Joanna Kacprzyk also drew a first-round bye before rolling to a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Reetta Raty of UTPA to enter the singles semifinals in flight C.
Freshmen Jo Garvey and Dionne Sanders recorded their best performances of their young careers, each winning two matches to advance to Saturday's semifinals. Garvey won a seesaw battle in her opening match with Dana Nazarova of UTPA (6-4, 7-5) and won in dominating fashion in the quarterfinals against UTSA's Katie Ottenbreit (6-0, 6-1).
Sanders, a native of Stourbridge, U.K., claimed her first collegiate victory against Prairie View A&M's Thomas (6-1, 7-5), and returned to the win column with a 6-0, 6-4 drubbing of Lee College's Leah Smith.
Senior Elena Kazakova became the sixth Cougar to advance to the singles semifinals with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Rachel Pierce of UALR.
Saturday's action begins at at 8:30 a.m. with two rounds of doubles, followed by one round of main draw singles and two rounds of consolation singles.
Live updates of the Houston tennis team will be available by following UHCougarTennis on Twitter.
Friday's Results
Singles Flight A (Round of 16)
Yana Kakovkina (UALR) def. Celia Fraser (UH), 6-4, 7-6(6)
Singles Flight B (Round of 16)
Giorgia Pozzan (UH) - first round bye
Singles Flight B (Quarterfinals)
Giorgia Pozzan (UH) def. Isabelle Jonsson (UTSA), 3-6, 6-0, 10-8
Singles Flight C (Round of 16)
Maja Kazimieruk (UH) def. Wanda Beguelin (UTPA), 1-6, 6-2, 10-7
Joanna Kacprzyk (UH) - first round bye
Singles Flight C (Quarterfinals)
Joanna Kacprzyk (UH) def. Reetta Raty (UTPA), 6-2, 6-0
Maja Kazimieruk (UH) def. Kavya Menon (UTSA), 6-1, 6-0
Singles Flight D (Round of 16)
Jo Garvey (UH) def. Dana Nazarova (UTPA), 6-4, 7-5
Dionne Sanders (UH) def. Thomas (PVAM), 6-1, 7-5
Singles Flight D (Quarterfinals)
Jo Garvey (UH) def. Katie Ottenbreit (UTSA), 6-0, 6-1
Dionne Sanders (UH) def. Leah Smith (Lee), 6-0, 6-4
Singles Flight E (Quarterfinals)
Elena Kazakova (UH) def. Rachel Pierce (UALR), 6-1, 6-3
Saturday's Schedule
Singles Flight A Consolation
Celia Fraser (UH) vs. Currie (SHSU)
Singles Flight B Semifinals
Giorgia Pozzan (UH) vs. Teu (ASU)
Singles Flight C Semifinals
Joanna Kacprzyk (UH) vs. Dubyanskaya (SHSU)
Maja Kazimieruk (UH) vs. Miloshevska (ASU)
Singles Flight D Semifinals
Jo Garvey (UH) vs. Petaia (SHSU)
Dionne Sanders (UH) vs. Kamal (ASU)
Singles Flight E Semifinals
Elena Kazakova (UH) vs. Maffezzolli (UTSA)
Players Mentioned
