University of Houston
Rice Invitational
Houston Wraps Rice Invitational
9/23/2018 8:28:00 PM | Tennis
Chitdara, Gerits, Belovukovic pick up wins on tournament’s final day
HOUSTON – The Houston Cougar Women's Tennis team wrapped up the first tournament of the 2018 fall season with four wins on the final day of the Rice Invitational, on Sunday.
Houston's doubles duo of Sophie Gerits and Phonexay Chitdara picked up their first victory of the season in Sunday's match against Isidora Zukovic and Karla De La Luz Montalvo of Sam Houston State. In a back-and-forth battle, the Houston and SHSU teams sat tied at 6-6 before the Cougars pulled off the win, 7-6.
Gerits returned to the court for singles play, and the resumption of her match against Millie Stratton (Maryland), which was halted with Gerits leading 6-4, 4-3, on Saturday. Gerits quickly won the first two games of the resumption to complete her first career victory 6-4, 6-3.
Gerits advanced to the consolation final of Flight 2, where she met Sahaja Yamalapalli of Sam Houston State. Gerits dropped the first set 6-2 before also falling in the second set 6-2.
Chitdara also competed in singles action, where she advanced to the Flight 5 finals. After defeating Laura Pellicer (USF) on Friday, and not seeing the court due to the weather on Saturday, Chitdara met Alex Heczey of North Texas, Sunday. The two were locked in a battle in the first set, however Chitdara edged out Heczey 7-6, before cruising to a 6-2 victory in the second set to clinch the match.
Chitdara and Giovanna Fioretti (McNeese) did not play their flight finals match due to time restrictions.
Ndindi Ndunda advanced to the Flight 6 finals on Sunday, due to Mariya Shumeika (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) withdrawing from their semifinal match. Ndunda would meet Charoline Erinadsson (McNeese) in the finals, however the sophomore fell in straight sets 6-1, 6-4.
Freshman Stephanie Belovukovic made her debut with the Cougars on Sunday, filling in for the injured Minying Liang of North Texas. After Selim claimed the first set 6-2, Belovukovic responded with a 6-3 victory in the second set, however Selim edged Belovukovic 10-5 in the super tiebreaker to claim the match.
Belovukovic would respond in a big way with her second match of the day, picking up her first career win over Ema Dancetovic of Northwestern State. Belovukovic rolled to a straight-set victory at 6-3, 6-1 to claim the match.
UP NEXT FOR HOUSTON
The Cougars will have a two-week break before returning to action for the SMU Invitational across Oct. 5-7, in Dallas.
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