University of Houston
No. 29 Dartmouth
Houston Wins Twice to Match Record Streak
3/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Final Stats vs. Dartmouth | Final Stats vs. Tyler JC
HOUSTON -- History was made at Houston Country Club on Saturday afternoon as the No. 39 University of Houston tennis team earned two victories, 5-2 over No. 29 Dartmouth and 6-0 over Tyler Junior College. The victories give Patrick Sullivan's team a 13-match winning streak, equaling a school record.
The Cougars (17-4) previously won 13 matches from Feb. 10 -- March 23, 1990. Houston also won their eighth match of the season against a nationally-ranked opponent on Saturday, increasing an existing single-season program best.
"We gave a great effort against an outstanding Dartmouth team, and then showed tremendous physical and mental toughness to take care of business efficiently against Tyler Junior College," said Sullivan. "It's always a bit of a risk to schedule two matches in a day, but this is an incredibly resilient team that is always ready to play no matter the circumstances."
 | No. 39 HOUSTON 5, No. 29 DARTMOUTH 2 |
The victory over the Big Green (13-3) was Houston's first win over a top-30 opponent since March 1, 2014, a 4-3 decision over No. 17 Tulsa. It was also the team's eighth straight win over a ranked team and their second triumph of the season over an Ivy League opponent.
The Cougars won an important doubles point to start the session. Elena Kordolaimi and Despoina Vogasari took down Jacqueline Crawford and Taylor Ng on the top court, and Angela Lorenzo teamed with Mina Markovic for a victory over Akiko Okuda and Julia Schroeder in the third flight. Both scores were 8-4.
No. 118 Kordolaimi reached a personal milestone in the first singles match to finish. The senior topped Katherine Yau, 6-2, 6-3, in the second flight, for her 44th career dual match victory as a Cougar. The total gives her possession of 10th all-time in the Houston record books.
In a meeting of nationally-ranked singles players, No. 103 Ng defeated No. 42 Vogasari in the top flight, 6-3, 6-1. The Dartmouth win cut Houston's lead to 2-1, but the Cougars were not swayed by the setback.
Markovic put Houston within striking distance of a team win on court five, where she dispatched of Schroeder, 6-2, 6-1. Mere moments later, Tina Rupert made it official with a 6-3, 6-2 result over Crawford in the third flight.
As Rupert and Crawford were clearing the court, Maria Cardenas struck the final blow of the match for Houston. She won the sixth flight, 6-4, 6-3, over Alexxis Kiven.
The last match to go final was on court four, where Rocio Martin fell to Akiko Okuda, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4. The match was Martin's first since sustaining an injury on March 7 against No. 52 Texas, and it snapped her six-match winning streak.
| No. 39 HOUSTON 6, TYLER JC 0 |
With the school record in sight, Houston elected to start with singles play against Tyler (6-6). Houston won in straight sets on all six courts to start the record celebration, and the teams did not move on to doubles.
Charlotte Phillips was the first to put Houston on the board with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Autria Compton on court six. Lorenzo followed the senior with a 6-1, 6-0 defeat of Adriana Garrett on the fifth court.
Despite the fatigue of playing twice in one day, the Cougars remained in complete control on every court. Almost simultaneously, Markovic and Kordolaimi finished off victories to clinch it for Houston. Markovic won court four, 6-0, 6-1, over Katie Delgado, and Kordolaimi knocked off Elizabeth Bagerbash in the second flight, 6-1, 6-2.
The Cougars finished the day with two more singles wins, once again earning points at almost the exact same time. Vogasari won the closest match of the second session, 6-2, 6-4, over Houston signee Joanna Savva in the first flight, and Martin dropped Paige Murdock in the third, 6-1, 6-3.
"This team has grown up as the season has progressed and understands that the best rewards are always hard-earned," said Sullivan. "It makes me proud as a coach to see them embrace that philosophy, and it also gives me confidence going into the postseason that we are definitely up to the task."
Vogasari and Kordolaimi lead the Cougars with 26 victories apiece this season, while Houston's freshmen are playing their best tennis as the regular season winds down. Markovic has won her last eight matches, and Lorenzo has won five straight to build a 15-2 singles record.
| RESULTS vs. DARTMOUTH |
SINGLES
1. #103 Taylor Ng (DART) def. #42 Despoina Vogasari (UH) 6-3, 6-1
2. #118 Elena Kordolaimi (UH) def. Katherine Yau (DART) 6-2, 6-3
3. Tina Rupert (UH) def. Jacqueline Crawford (DART) 6-3, 6-2
4. Akiko Okuda (DART) def. Rocio Martin (UH) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
5. Mina Markovic (UH) def. Julia Schroeder (DART) 6-2, 6-1
6. Maria Cardenas (UH) def. Alexxis Kiven (DART) 6-4, 6-3
DOUBLES
1. Elena Kordolaimi/Despoina Vogasari (UH) def. Jacqueline Crawford/Taylor Ng (DART) 8-4
2. Tina Rupert/Maria Cardenas (UH) vs. Alexxis Kiven/Katherine Yau (DART) 5-4, unfinished
3. Angela Lorenzo/Mina Markovic (UH) def. Akiko Okuda/Julia Schroeder (DART) 8-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,1,5,3,6,4)
| RESULTS vs. TYLER JC |
SINGLES
1. #42 Despoina Vogasari (UH) def. Joanna Savva (TJC) 6-2, 6-4
2. #118 Elena Kordolaimi (UH) def. Elizabeth Bagerbash (TJC) 6-1, 6-2
3. Rocio Martin (UH) def. Paige Murdock (TJC) 6-1, 6-3
4. Mina Markovic (UH) def. Katie Delgado (TJC) 6-0, 6-1
5. Angela Lorenzo (UH) def. Adriana Garrett (TJC) 6-1, 6-0
6. Charlotte Phillips (UH) def. Autria Compton (TJC) 6-0, 6-1
DOUBLES
1. Joanna Savva/Paige Murdock (TJC) vs. Elena Kordolaimi/Despoina Vogasari (UH) no result
2. Elizabeth Bagerbash/Katie Delgado (TJC) vs. Maria Cardenas/Tina Rupert (UH) no result
3. Adriana Garrett/Autria Compton (TJC) vs. Angela Lorenzo/Mina Markovic (UH) no result
Order of finish: Doubles (---); Singles (6,5,4,2,3,1)
| UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS |
The Cougars return to American Athletic Conference competition and look to set a new program milestone on Friday, April 3, against Tulsa. A win would give Houston the first 14-match winning streak in school history.
Match time at the Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla., is scheduled for 5 pm CT. Houston will be looking to go to 6-0 in American play.
| 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
| FOLLOW THE COUGARS! |
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
