Tennis Drops Match to #36 FIU

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Tennis program fell to #36 FIU, 4-0 on Thursday afternoon at the Barbara Wallace Winston Tennis Facility.

The Cougars (11-6) will return to action 10 a.m., Monday against #64 South Florida. Admission is free for all Houston Tennis matches and no student claim is necessary.

With the win, FIU (13-3) extended its win streak to nine matches.

#36 FIU started the day picking up the doubles point with victories on courts 2 and 3. Maria Dzemeshkevich and Gabriela Cortes fell to Katerina Mandelikova/Salma Loudili, 6-2. The Panthers' Yasmine Kabbaj/Oyinlomo Quadre followed with a 6-2 victory against Sonya Kovalenko and Elena Trencheva.

Houston looked to turn things around in singles play, but ultimately fell short against its ranked opponent.

Despite the match ending unfinished, junior Laura Slisane grabbed a singles set against the Panthers. Slisane earned the first set against Ekaterina Khairutdinova, 6-4.

#36 FIU picked up wins on courts 1, 3 and 6 to clinch the victory. Court 6 was decided first with Loudili defeating Trencheva (6-0, 6-2). On Court 1, Dzemeshkevich fell in both sets (6-0, 6-3) against Kabbaj. In a close match, Oyinlomo Quadre defeated Sophie Schouten (6-4, 6-3) on court 3 to seal the victory for the Panthers.

UP NEXT
Following its match against #64 South Florida, Houston will travel to San Antonio, Texas to face UTSA at 1 p.m., Friday, April 7, for their final road match of the season.

The Cougars will then host North Texas at 11 a.m., Friday, April 14 and will close out the regular season against #48 Rice at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 15 for Senior Day.

The Cougars will honor its three seniors, Sofia Chang, Azul Pedemonti and Manasi Reddy at the conclusion of the match.

RESULTS

Singles competition
1. Yasmine Kabbaj (FIU) def. Maria Dzemeshkevich (HOU) 6-0, 6-3
2. Laura Slisane (HOU) vs. E. Khairutdinova (FIU) 6-3, 0-6, 0-2, unfinished
3. Oyinlomo Quadre (FIU) def. Sophie Schouten (HOU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Sonya Kovalenko (HOU) vs. Kamila Umarova (FIU) 1-6, 3-5, unfinished
5. Gabriela Cortes (HOU) vs. Katerina Mandelikova (FIU) 3-6, 5-4, unfinished
6. Salma Loudili (FIU) def. Elena Trencheva (HOU) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Sophie Schouten/Laura Slisane (HOU) vs. Kamila Umarova/E. Khairutdinova (FIU) 5-5, unfinished
2. Yasmine Kabbaj/Oyinlomo Quadre (FIU) def. Sonya Kovalenko/Elena Trencheva (HOU) 6-2
3. Katerina Mandelikova/Salma Loudili (FIU) def. Maria Dzemeshkevich/Gabriela Cortes (HOU) 6-2

Match Notes:
FIU 13-3; National ranking #36
Houston 11-6

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,1,3)

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Players Mentioned

Sofia Chang

Gabriela Cortes

Maria Dzemeshkevich

Sonya Kovalenko

Azul Pedemonti

Manasi Reddy

Sophie Schouten

Laura Slisane

Elena Trencheva