University of Houston
SMU
No. 36 SMU Snaps Houston Winning Streak, 4-1
4/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
April 10, 2011
HOUSTON -The University of Houston tennis team dropped a hard-fought 4-1 decision to No. 36 SMU, Sunday afternoon at John E. Hoff Courts. The Cougars had their seven-match winning streak snapped and fell to 14-7 overall, while the Mustangs improved to 18-4.
"I'm happy with the way we competed," said head coach John Severance. "We needed a little luck in a few key spots, but I felt like we had a chance if we could've prolonged the match some in this heat with our fitness level."
The Cougars dropped matches at the top two doubles positions as SMU took the early 1-0 advantage.
In singles play, Houston claimed one match and won sets in two other contest against the stout SMU lineup.
Freshman Dionne Sanders kept rolling, claiming her ninth-consecutive victory with a 6-1, 6-1 rout of Kris Roberts at the No. 6 spot to improve to 11-6 this spring.
The Mustangs clinched the match when the nation's ninth-ranked player, Marta Lesniak, triumphed over Celia Fraser at the top position in a gritty 7-5, 6-2 contest.
Bryony Hunter and Joanna Kacprzyk were both playing in third sets against their SMU opponents when the match was called.
The Cougars will look to get back in the win column this afternoon against Prairie View A&M.
DOUBLES
1. Lesniak/Malyarchikova (SMU) def. Fraser/Pozzan (UH), 8-3
2. Cieplucha/Steinbauer (SMU) def. Hunter/Sanders (UH), 8-0
3. Turpin/Hatamova (SMU) vs. Kazimieruk/Kazakova (UH), 6-3, DNF
Order of Finish: 2,1*
SINGLES
1. No. 9 Marta Lesniak (SMU) def. Celia Fraser (UH), 7-5, 6-2
2. Edyta Cieplucha (SMU) vs. Bryony Hunter (UH), 4-6, 6-3, 4-1, DNF
3. No. 117 Aleksandra Malyarchikova (SMU) def. Giorgia Pozzan (UH), 6-1, 6-2
4. Heather Steinbauer (SMU) vs. Joanna Kacprzyk (UH), 6-2, 3-6, 1-0, DNF
5. Shahzoda Hatamova (SMU) def. Maja Kazimieruk (UH), 6-1, 6-1
6. Dionne Sanders (UH) def. Kris Roberts (SMU), 6-2, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6,5,3,1*
*Clinching Point
Players Mentioned
