University of Houston Athletics
Houston Set to Host UTSA in 2014 Season Opener
1/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Jan. 23, 2014
Houston (0-0) vs. UTSA (0-1)
Houston, Texas | Galleria Tennis and Athletic Club
Friday, January 24, 2014 | 1:00 p.m. CT
Match Coverage: Live Stats |Twitter
2014 Women's Tennis Quick Facts 
HOUSTON---It's been almost three months now since the Cougars last took to the court, but the wait is finally over, as Houston kicks off the 2014 spring slate with a dual match vs. UTSA, Friday at 1:00 p.m. CT at the Galleria Tennis and Athletic Club.
Second year head coach Patrick Sullivan welcomes back six athletes from last year's squad that finished 13-11 overall, marking the program's 11th consecutive winning season.
The Cougars will sport one of their most balanced squads in years, as they return three seniors in Celia Fraser, Jo Garvey, and Dionne Sanders. In addition, Houston brings in three newcomers in freshman Despoina Vogasari, Tina Rupert, and sophomore transfer Maria Andrea Cardenas, as the trio makes up a signing class that was ranked as the sixth-best in the country and tops among mid-majors a year ago.
Juniors Rocio Martin Fernandez, Charlotte Phillips and Elena Kordolaimi look to continue their positive progression, as Fernandez led the team with 14 wins last year and Kordolaimi finished the campaign with three straight victories.
UTSA comes into the new season with one of the younger teams in the nation, as six of the nine players on the roster are underclassman, with Isabelle Jonsson being the lone senior on the team. Jonsson posted a team-leading 10 wins last season, holding an overall record of 10-8 for the year.
There will be live stats available for Houston's dual match vs. UTSA. To access live stats for the match visit www.UHCougars.com, click the women's tennis schedule page then click the "Live Stats" link.
Follow the Cougars!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Cougar athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonAthletics), Twitter (@UHCougarSports), Instagram (houstoncougars) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/UHAthletics). In addition, the women's tennis team has established its own official Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonCougarTennis) and Twitter pages (@UHCougarTennis).
The Galleria Tennis and Athletic Club (GTAC) is located at 5015 Westheimer Rd., Suite 4020. The Club is located atop the Galleria mall on the third level of the Orange Garage facing West Alabama.
For Openers
Houston is 29-6 all-time in duel match season openers, sporting an all-time mark of 20-4 at home, compared to a 9-2 record when opening the season on the road…the Cougars are 10-2 in their last 12 season openers and have won eight consecutive season openers at home going back to the 2000-01 campaign…head coach Patrick Sullivan is 1-0 in season openers at Houston.
A Look at the Series...
Houston vs. UTSA
Overall Record: 19-1
Home Record: 13-1
Away Record: 6-0
Neutral Site Record: 0-0
Longest Win Streak: 12 matches
Longest Losing Streak: 1 match
Current Streak: Won 12
Record in Last 10 Meetings: 10-0
First Meeting: Feb. 26, 1983 (W, 8-1)
Last Meeting: Feb. 8, 2013 (W, 4-3)
The Series Match-by-Match
02/26/83 UTSA W 8-1
02/15/85 UTSA W8-1
02/14/86 UTSA W 6-3
02/12/88 UTSA W, 9-0
02/27/89 at UTSA W, 9-0
02/10/90 UTSA W, 8-0
04/11/91 at UTSA W, 5-2
02/15/92 UTSA L, 4-5
02/24/93 at UTSA W, 5-4
02/ 26/ 94 UTSA W, 7-2
02/04/95 at UTSA W, 5-4
02/06/96 UTSA W, 9-0
02/22/97 UTSA W, 8-1
01/29/98 UTSA W, 8-1
04/06/99 UTSA W, 6-3
01/29/00 UTSA W, 7-2
02/02/02 UTSA W, 5-2
02/26/06 at UTSA W, 5-2
02/12/12 UTSA W, 7-0
02/08/13 at UTSA W, 4-3
Series Notes: This will be the 22nd all-time meeting between the two programs and it will be the third straight season the two clubs have met…Houston is 13-1 all-time vs. UTSA at home and has won eight straight home contests vs. the Roadrunners going back to the 1992 spring season…the Cougars have blanked UTSA five times with the last time coming on Feb. 12, 2012, which was also the last time Houston has hosted the Roadrunners…in the last nine meetings between the two schools, the match has come down to the final point only once, with the Cougars average margin of victory during that span being a dominating five points.
Postseason Aspirations
Houston enters the season looking to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998 and for the third time in school history.
Fresh Talent
Newcomers Maria Andrea Cardenas, Despoina Vogasari, and Tina Rupert make up what was ranked as the sixth best recruiting class in the nation and the tops among mid-majors a year ago.
About Patrick Sullivan
Sullivan enters his second season at Houston with an overall coaching record of 56-21 in three seasons overall as a head coach…he currently owns a record of 13-11 in his second year at Houston…Sullivan is 1-0 all-time vs. UTSA while at Houston.
Home Sweet Home
The Cougars will play school-record 16 home matches in 2014, including seven consecutive to begin the year.
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
The 2014 schedule will undoubtedly be one of the more rigorous slates in program history, as the Cougars will play eight nationally ranked opponents in No. 60 North Texas (Feb. 8), at No. 45 Washington (Feb. 23), at No. 17 Texas (Feb. 28), No. 28 Tulsa (March 1), at No. 58 Utah (March 12), at No. 52 SMU (March 22), at No. 68 Harvard (March 30), and at No. 40 William and Mary (April 11). The Cougars will also go up against four schools that qualified for the NCAA Tournament a year ago in Texas, Tulsa, North Texas, and William and Mary.
Hear it From Them
Be sure to visit www.UHCougars.com and click on the women's tennis page to watch the 2014 women's tennis season preview video featuring head coach Patrick Sullivan, senior Celia Fraser, and junior Charlotte Phillips.
Up Next for the Cougars
After Friday's season opener vs. UTSA, the Cougars will continue their season-long seven-match homestand vs. New Mexico, Sunday at 11:00 a.m. CT at the John E. Hoff Tennis Courts, located on the campus of the University of Houston.
