Tennis Comeback Comes Up Short

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – After being down 3-1, the University of Houston Tennis team's comeback came up just short as it fell to UTSA, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at the UTSA Tennis Complex.

The Cougars (3-3) have now lost the last three meetings with UTSA (12-0) after falling 5-2 in 2023 and 4-2 in 2024.

Houston dropped the doubles point as juniors Gabriela Cortes and Sophie Schouten lost, 6-0, to Natalia Guerrero and Aoka Nagasawa on court three.

Sophomore Heta Nuutinen made her doubles debut with fellow sophomore Iva Sepa as the duo fell to Valeria Sanchez and Ekua Youri, 6-3.

Trailing 1-0, sophomore Valeriia Krokhotina tied the match as she defeated Nagasawa, 6-4, 6-3, on court six.

The Roadrunners pushed back in front as Morozova fell to Sanchez on court four, 7-5, 7-5, and Schouten dropped a tight second set to Arina Babenko, 6-3, 7(9)-6(7).

With their backs against the wall, the Cougars pulled out a pair of three setters on courts two and one, respectively. Sepa defeated Youri, 6-4, 6(5)-7, 6-3, and after dropping the first set, fifth-year Santa Strombacha defeated Letizia Corsini, 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-4.

In a match that needed the tiebreaker in the deciding set, Nuutinen fell, 5-7, 6-4, 6(3)-7, to Baccino on court three to give the Cougars their third straight loss.

MATCH RESULTS
Singles
#94 Santa Strombacha (HOU) def. Letizia Corsini (UTSA) 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-4
Iva Sepa (HOU) def. Ekua Youri (UTSA) 6-4, 6(5)-7, 6-3
Vittoria Baccino (UTSA) def. Heta Nuutinen (HOU) 6-2, 6-4
Valeria Sanchez (UTSA) def. Elizaveta Morozova (HOU) 7-5, 7-5
Arina Babenko (UTSA) def. Sophie Schouten (HOU) 6-3, 7(9)-6(7)
Valeriia Krokhotina (HOU) def. Aoka Nagasawa (UTSA) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles
Vittoria Baccino/Letizia Corsini (UTSA) vs. Santa Strombacha/Elizaveta Morozova (HOU) 4-2
Valeria Sanchez/Ekua Youri (UTSA) def. Iva Sepa/Heta Nuutinen (HOU) 6-3
Natalia Guerrero/Aoka Nagasawa (UTSA) def. Sophie Schouten/Gabriela Cortes (HOU) 6-0

UP NEXT
The Cougars open Big 12 Conference play when they head to #13 Oklahoma State at 6 p.m., Friday from the Greenwood Tennis Center in Stillwater, Okla. The Cougars wrap up the opening weekend of conference play at noon, Sunday, when they head to Manhattan, Kansas to take on Kansas State at Mike Gross Tennis Stadium.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Tennis by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's very own NIL collective and by joining the Center Court Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Tennis for needs beyond its operating budget.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarTennis on X, formerly known as Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarTennis or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougartennis.

– UHCougars.com –

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Gabriela Cortes

Valeriia Krokhotina

Elizaveta Morozova

Heta Nuutinen

Sophie Schouten

Iva Sepa

Santa Strombacha

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