Photo by: For Houston Athletics
Cougars Rally Back, Defeat Mean Green
4/3/2022 5:29:00 PM | Tennis
Houston to close out regular season at Rice on Saturday
DENTON, Texas – The University of Houston Tennis program defeated North Texas, 4-3 from the Waranch Tennis Facility in Denton, Texas, on Sunday afternoon.
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"I am so proud of the team's effort this weekend," Houston Tennis Head Coach Helena Besovic said. "We found a way to stay composed throughout different challenges, showed maturity on the court and got the job done on the road."
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Houston (13-8) went to UNT (9-9) looking to go 2-0 on the weekend. After a difficult start in doubles competition, the Cougars clawed back in singles play.
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DOUBLES
Maria Dzemeshkevich and Elena Trencheva fell 6-1 to UNT's Jasmine Adams and Sophia Hummel. Azul Pedemonti and Blanca Cortijo Parreno were defeated by Lucie Devier and Maria Ponomareva, 6-1.Â
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Sophie Gerits and Laura Slisane's matchup against Liisa Vehvilainen and Saki Oyama was left unfinished.
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SINGLES
Houston looked to turn things around in singles play, and managed to get points on the board immediately.
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On Court 2, Slisane gave the Cougars their first points against UNT's Adams (6-3, 6-3), marking Slisane's second singles win on the weekend. On Court 6, Gabriela Giraldo gave the Cougars a 2-1 lead by defeating rival Saki Oyama (6-2, 6-2) in both sets.
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The Mean Green answered back by picking up two points on Courts 5 and 4. Kexuan Zhou defeated Cortijo Parreno in two sets (7-5, 6-3). Gerits fought hard on Court 4, but ultimately fell short against Ponomareva (6-4, 6-4).
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For a second consecutive singles match on the weekend, Dzemeshkevich's match on Court 1 was decided in a tiebreaker. Dzemeshkevich picked up the first set 7-6 (7-5), and fell 6-4 in the second. Dzemeshkevich battled hard and picked up the point for the Cougars, winning 6-3 in the tiebreaker (7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3).
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Following Dzemeshkevich's win, all eyes were on Court 3 in the matchup between Houston's Pedemonti and UNT's Vehvilainen. All three sets were decided in tiebreakers, with Vehvilainen picking up the first set, 7-6 (8-6).
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Pedemonti fired back, claiming the second set, 7-6 (9-7). Pedemonti was not finished, as she won the tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-5) to clinch the match for the Cougars.
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Houston will close out the regular season against crosstown rival Rice at 11 a.m. on Saturday from the George R. Brown Tennis Center.
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Results
Houston 4
North Texas 3
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Singles competition
1. DZEMESHKEVICH, Maria (HOU) def. Lucie Devier (UNT) 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3
2. SLISANE, Laura (HOU) def. Jasmine Adams (UNT) 6-3, 6-3
3. PEDEMONTI, Azul (HOU) def. Liisa Vehvilainen (UNT) 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5)
4. Maria Ponomareva (UNT) def. GERITS, Sophie (HOU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Kexuan Zhou (UNT) def. CORTIJO PARRENO, B (HOU) 7-5, 6-3
6. GIRALDO, Gabriella (HOU) def. Saki Oyama (UNT) 6-2, 6-2
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Doubles competition
1. Lucie Devier/Maria Ponomareva (UNT) def. PEDEMONTI, Azul/CORTIJO PARRENO, B (HOU) 6-1
2. Liisa Vehvilainen/Saki Oyama (UNT) vs. GERITS, Sophie/SLISANE, Laura (HOU) 4-2, unfinished
3. Jasmine Adams/Sophia Hummel (UNT) def. DZEMESHKEVICH, Maria/TRENCHEVA, Elena (HOU) 6-1
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Match Notes
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,6,5,4,1,3)
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UP NEXT
The Cougars will wrap up the regular season against Rice at 11 a.m. on Saturday from the George R. Brown Tennis Center.
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Houston will begin action at the 2022 American Athletic Conference Championships on Wednesday, April 20 held in Tulsa, Okla., at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.
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STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Tennis on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarTennis, and "Like" UHCougarTennis on Facebook.
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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 (@UHCougars), Instagram (houstoncougars) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/UHAthletics).
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"I am so proud of the team's effort this weekend," Houston Tennis Head Coach Helena Besovic said. "We found a way to stay composed throughout different challenges, showed maturity on the court and got the job done on the road."
Â
Houston (13-8) went to UNT (9-9) looking to go 2-0 on the weekend. After a difficult start in doubles competition, the Cougars clawed back in singles play.
Â
DOUBLES
Maria Dzemeshkevich and Elena Trencheva fell 6-1 to UNT's Jasmine Adams and Sophia Hummel. Azul Pedemonti and Blanca Cortijo Parreno were defeated by Lucie Devier and Maria Ponomareva, 6-1.Â
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Sophie Gerits and Laura Slisane's matchup against Liisa Vehvilainen and Saki Oyama was left unfinished.
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SINGLES
Houston looked to turn things around in singles play, and managed to get points on the board immediately.
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On Court 2, Slisane gave the Cougars their first points against UNT's Adams (6-3, 6-3), marking Slisane's second singles win on the weekend. On Court 6, Gabriela Giraldo gave the Cougars a 2-1 lead by defeating rival Saki Oyama (6-2, 6-2) in both sets.
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The Mean Green answered back by picking up two points on Courts 5 and 4. Kexuan Zhou defeated Cortijo Parreno in two sets (7-5, 6-3). Gerits fought hard on Court 4, but ultimately fell short against Ponomareva (6-4, 6-4).
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For a second consecutive singles match on the weekend, Dzemeshkevich's match on Court 1 was decided in a tiebreaker. Dzemeshkevich picked up the first set 7-6 (7-5), and fell 6-4 in the second. Dzemeshkevich battled hard and picked up the point for the Cougars, winning 6-3 in the tiebreaker (7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3).
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Following Dzemeshkevich's win, all eyes were on Court 3 in the matchup between Houston's Pedemonti and UNT's Vehvilainen. All three sets were decided in tiebreakers, with Vehvilainen picking up the first set, 7-6 (8-6).
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Pedemonti fired back, claiming the second set, 7-6 (9-7). Pedemonti was not finished, as she won the tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-5) to clinch the match for the Cougars.
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Houston will close out the regular season against crosstown rival Rice at 11 a.m. on Saturday from the George R. Brown Tennis Center.
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Results
Houston 4
North Texas 3
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Singles competition
1. DZEMESHKEVICH, Maria (HOU) def. Lucie Devier (UNT) 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3
2. SLISANE, Laura (HOU) def. Jasmine Adams (UNT) 6-3, 6-3
3. PEDEMONTI, Azul (HOU) def. Liisa Vehvilainen (UNT) 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5)
4. Maria Ponomareva (UNT) def. GERITS, Sophie (HOU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Kexuan Zhou (UNT) def. CORTIJO PARRENO, B (HOU) 7-5, 6-3
6. GIRALDO, Gabriella (HOU) def. Saki Oyama (UNT) 6-2, 6-2
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Doubles competition
1. Lucie Devier/Maria Ponomareva (UNT) def. PEDEMONTI, Azul/CORTIJO PARRENO, B (HOU) 6-1
2. Liisa Vehvilainen/Saki Oyama (UNT) vs. GERITS, Sophie/SLISANE, Laura (HOU) 4-2, unfinished
3. Jasmine Adams/Sophia Hummel (UNT) def. DZEMESHKEVICH, Maria/TRENCHEVA, Elena (HOU) 6-1
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Match Notes
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,6,5,4,1,3)
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UP NEXT
The Cougars will wrap up the regular season against Rice at 11 a.m. on Saturday from the George R. Brown Tennis Center.
Â
Houston will begin action at the 2022 American Athletic Conference Championships on Wednesday, April 20 held in Tulsa, Okla., at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.
Â
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Tennis on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarTennis, and "Like" UHCougarTennis on Facebook.
Â
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 (@UHCougars), Instagram (houstoncougars) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/UHAthletics).
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Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
Order of Finish:
2,6,5,4,1,3
Players Mentioned
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11AM - Tennis, Courts 3 & 5: University of Houston vs. Kansas State
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11AM - Tennis, Courts 2 & 1: University of Houston vs. Kansas State
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Tennis, Courts 3 & 5: University of Houston vs. Oklahoma State
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