University of Houston Athletics
Houston Faces Tulane in Difficult Road Test
3/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
| No. 34 HOUSTON COUGARS vs. TULANE GREEN WAVE | |
|---|---|
| Date/Time | Tuesday, March 17 • 1 pm CT |
| Location | City Park Pepsi Tennis Center • New Orleans, La. |
| Series History | Tulane leads, 3-1 |
| Social Media |   |
HOUSTON - The University of Houston tennis program returns to action on Tuesday morning, when they take on American Athletic Conference foe Tulane. Match time at the City Park Pepsi Tennis Center in New Orleans is scheduled for 1 pm CT.
The Cougars (11-4) enter Tuesday's battle on a seven-match winning streak and are ranked No. 34 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings. Houston extended their run on March 14 in dramatic fashion, rallying from a 3-0 deficit to knock off Memphis, 4-3.
The seven-match streak is the longest of Head Coach Patrick Sullivan's tenure at Houston and the program's top run since 2011, when the Cougars won seven consecutive contests from March 12 - April 9. UH has also beaten six ranked teams this year, a program best.
Houston is more than halfway to the longest winning streak in program history. The 1989-90 Cougars opened the dual season with 13 straight victories on the way to a 23-3 record.
Junior Tina Rupert scored the clinching point for the Cougars against Memphis, but she was not alone in the comeback effort. Teammates Mina Markovic, Elena Kordolaimi and Charlotte Phillips all won singles points as part of the rally, with Phillips fighting off a match point on court six to keep Houston's hopes alive.
Sophomore Despoina Vogasari is Houston's top-ranked player, at No. 33 in the latest ITA national singles rankings. The Athens, Greece native is 22-6 this season, with an 11-3 spring record.
Kordolaimi continues to be Houston's most consistent performer. The 107th-ranked singles player in the nation, Kordolaimi has won 15 of her last 16 matches to build a 21-5 overall record. She is tied with Rocio Martin for the team lead in doubles victories, with 10.
Though there is no regular season conference title, Houston is 2-0 against opponents from The American this season. In addition to last week's victory over Memphis, the Cougars dropped UConn, 6-1, on Feb. 28.
 | SCOUTING TULANE |
The Green Wave (11-4) have won four straight matches to solidify themselves as one of the top contenders for the American crown. They play their first league opponent, Cincinnati, on Monday afternoon before welcoming the Cougars to New Orleans tomorrow.
Junior Jacqui Katz is Tulane's top performer, with a 13-11 record that includes nine spring victories. Fellow junior Ipek Birol and freshman Naz Karagoz have each won 12 singles matches.
Tulane defeated Samford on March 14 by a 4-1 count. Karagoz, Vanessa Nommensen and Nicky Stracar each earned singles wins.
Houston is 1-3 all-time against Tulane, with the Green Wave holding a three-match winning streak. The teams last played on April 20, 2012, a 4-0 Tulane win in the Conference USA Tournament. Phillips was the lone current Cougar to take part in the match, though her singles contest went unfinished.
| UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS |
The Cougars continue a very busy week on Thursday, when they host Cincinnati at Houston Country Club. The match begins at 11 am CT, and live scoring is available at UHCougars.com/TennisScores .
| JOIN THE CENTER COURT CLUB |
The Cougars are proud to introduce the Center Court Club, a restricted-giving program that directly impacts the needs of the University of Houston Tennis program. Gifts to the Center Court Club provide financial support directly to the University of Houston Tennis program for needs beyond the program's operating budget. Revenue generated from the Center Court Club is used at the discretion of the Head Coach for program enhancements. Membership in the Center Court Club is annual and requires a minimum $100 gift.
LEVELS OF GIVING
WINNER
For a minimum gift of $100, supporters receive a team poster and a signed tennis ball
ACE
For a minimum gift of $500, supporters receive a team poster and a signed tennis ball, private practice invitation and a stadium blanket
US OPEN
For a minimum gift of $1,000, supporters receive a team poster and a signed tennis ball, private practice invitation, a stadium blanket, fleece jacket and a lesson from the coach.
GRAND SLAM
For a minimum gift of $2,500, supporters receive a team poster and a signed tennis ball, private practice invitation, a stadium blanket, fleece jacket, a lesson from the coach and a group lesson from the Coaching staff
Join the Center Court Club
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Fans can keep up with the latest in University of Houston 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).
--UHCougars.com--
Players Mentioned
