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University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Earn Top Seed at American Championship
4/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
| No. 28 HOUSTON COUGARS at the 2015 AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP | |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 15-18, 2015 |
| First Round | Wednesday - BYE |
| Quarterfinals | Thursday - noon CT · vs. East Carolina or UConn |
| Semifinals | Friday - noon CT · vs. SMU or Memphis |
| Finals | Saturday - 1 p.m. CT |
| Location | Case Tennis Center · Tulsa, Okla. |
| Tournament Central | TheAmerican.org/Tennis |
| Live Video | StreamingTennis.com |
| Social Media |   |
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The University of Houston tennis team has earned the top seed in the 2015 American Athletic Conference Championship, to be held Wednesday-Saturday, April 15-18 at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla. As the highest seed, the Cougars have earned a bye on Wednesday and will face either eighth-seeded UConn or ninth-seeded East Carolina on Thursday at noon CT in the quarterfinals.
With a victory on Thursday, the Cougars would qualify to face either fourth-seeded SMU or fifth-seeded Memphis in Friday's semifinal round, which also begins at noon CT. A win there puts UH in the championship match, which will be held on Saturday, with first serve scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
Live video coverage is available for each match of the 2015 American Championship, including full American Digital Network coverage of the championship match. For direct links and more information, including a tournament bracket, please visit The American's Tournament Central page.
Houston (20-4) is ranked No. 28 in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association national poll. The Cougars are in the midst of a school-record 16-match winning streak and have not lost since Feb. 14.
Patrick Sullivan's team is undefeated against American opponents this season, posting a 7-0 record by a combined score of 36-8. The Cougars have also knocked off 10 nationally-ranked teams this season, another school record.
 |  THE HOUSTON LINEUP |
Sophomore Despoina Vogasari leads the Cougar roster from the top singles position with a record of 28-8, including a 17-5 dual match mark. Currently ranked No. 62 by the ITA, Vogasari has defeated six nationally-ranked opponents this season and is 5-1 against American foes.
Senior Elena Kordolaimi is ranked No. 102 by the ITA and paces Houston with a 29-6 record. The Lamia, Greece native is 21-2 in the spring and 7-0 in American play. Her 21 singles dual victories stand as the fifth-best mark in Houston history, and with two more wins she will match Hae Beck and Margaret Redfearn, who each won 23 dual matches in 1985. With three wins, Kordolaimi will equal the single-season school record of 24 dual victories, achieved by Kathy Foxworth in both 1986 and 1987.
Sophomore Tina Rupert has fought through injuries to build a 12-8 mark, including a 10-7 spring record primarily out of the No. 3 spot. Rupert is 5-0 in conference matches and has won her last three completed contests heading into the American tournament.
Junior Rocio Martin has also battled injuries this season but carries a 14-10 record, including a 10-7 dual mark and a 7-2 record from the fourth position. The Madrid, Spain native has won seven of her last nine completed matches.
A pair of freshmen have solidified the bottom of the Houston lineup as the season has reached its most important stages. Angela Lorenzo is 16-2 with a six-match winning streak, while Mina Markovic is 13-6 and has won eight of her last nine. The duo is a combined 7-2 in American matches.
Veterans Maria Cardenas and Charlotte Phillips are also key parts of the Houston attack. Cardenas is 16-12 as a junior, while Phillips is 13-6 in her senior season, with wins in both of her American contests.
On the doubles side, the top flight team of Kordolaimi and Vogasari has been Houston's most consistent pairing. The two Greeks are 9-4 in the spring and have combined for 24 career dual victories, eighth in UH history.
|  SCOUTING UCONN |
The Huskies are 14-8, with a 3-2 record against American opponents and wins in their last two matches. UConn is led by junior Srna Stosljevic, who is 23-9 overall and 15-6 in the spring season playing from the No. 1 position.
Houston is 2-0 all-time against UConn, including a 6-1 win on Feb. 28 in East Hartford, Conn. Vogasari was a 6-2, 6-2 winner over Stosljevic, while Kordolaimi, Rupert, Martin and Phillips also earned singles wins.
|  SCOUTING EAST CAROLINA |
ECU went 12-11 in the regular season and lost five of their six matches against American rivals. Junior Katie Hoch, who has primarily played on the fifth court, has been the most consistent Pirate in the spring. She has a 13-10 overall record and a 10-5 dual mark.
The Cougars hold a 2-1 all-time edge over East Carolina. The teams have already met once this season, a 7-0 Houston sweep on March 20 at Houston Country Club. Vogasari, Kordolaimi and Rupert dominated the top courts, while Markovic, Cardenas and Lorenzo finished off the sweep.
ECU and UConn have already met once this season, a 4-1 Husky victory on April 10 in East Hartford. East Carolina's lone point came on the doubles courts, and they dropped all four completes singles battles.
|  LAST SEASON AT THE AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP |
Houston was the top seed and advanced to the finals of the inaugural American Championship, held April 18-20, 2014 in Tampa, Fla. The Cougars swept Cincinnati in the quarterfinals, 4-0, before dusting off Rutgers, 4-0, in the semifinals. The Cougars were stopped by host USF in the championship match, however, 4-2.
Cardenas led the Cougars with a 2-0 record at the 2014 American Championship, while Vogasari also won twice.
|  UH'S CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT HISTORY |
The Cougars are 24-30 all-time in 54 conference tournament matches spanning 26 postseason appearances. Houston won 22 matches in 16 Conference USA tournament runs and two matches last season at the American Championship.
UH's lone conference tournament title came in 1998, when they won Conference USA Tournament in Houston. The Cougars beat Southern Miss in the quarterfinals, 5-2, Marquette in the semifinals, 5-4, and UAB in the title match, 5-2.
|  TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE |
Wednesday, April 15 - First Round
Match 1 - No. 8 UConn vs. No. 9 East Carolina - 10 a.m. ET/9 a.m. CT
Match 2 - No. 6 UCF vs. No. 11 USF - 10 a.m. ET/9 a.m. CT
Match 3 - No. 7 Temple vs. No. 10 Cincinnati - 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT
Thursday, April 16 - Quarterfinals
Match 4 - No. 1 Houston vs. Winner of Match 1 - 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT
Match 5 - No. 4 SMU vs. No. 5 Memphis - 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT
Match 6 - No. 3 Tulsa vs. Winner of Match 2 - 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT
Match 7 - No. 2 Tulane vs. Winner of Match 3 - 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT
Friday, April 17 - Semifinals
Match 8 - Winner of Match 4 vs. Winner of Match 5 - 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT
Match 9 - Winner of Match 6 vs. Winner of Match 7 - 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT
Saturday, April 18 - Final
Match 10 - Winner of Match 8 vs. Winner of Match 9 - 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT
|  UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS |
Following the American Championship, Houston is well-positioned for a bid to the NCAA Championships. First and second round play will be held May 8-10 on campus sites, and the selection show will be broadcast on Tuesday, April 28 at 4 pm CT on NCAA.com.
|  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
