PREVIEW: Tennis Opens Big 12 Play at #25 Oklahoma State and #73 Kansas State

STILLWATER, Okla. – The University of Houston Tennis team opens its Big 12 Conference slate when it faces #25 Oklahoma State at 6 p.m., Friday, at the Greenwood Tennis Center.

On Sunday, the Cougars head to Manhattan, Kan., to face #73 Kansas State at noon, from Mike Goss Tennis Stadium.

Action against Oklahoma State can be seen on the live stream or follow live stats here. There is no stream at Kansas State on Sunday, but live stats can be found here.

Fifth-year Santa Strombacha leads the way with four singles wins on court one, while Strombacha and sophomore partner Elizaveta Morozova, and junior duo Gabriela Cortes and Sophie Schouten have compiled three wins in doubles play.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State owns a 1-0 advantage over Houston with that lone win coming last season as the Cowgirls swept the Cougars, 4-0, in Houston (April 5).

The Cowgirls are 6-5 to start the season with all five losses coming against ranked foes. Gracie Epps and Rose Marie Nijkamp lead the Cowgirls with five singles victories while Nijkamp and Anastasiya Komar pace Oklahoma State with eight doubles wins on court one.

Kansas State
Kansas State owns a 2-1 advantage over Houston. The Cougars and Wildcats meet for the fourth time and for the second straight season. Last season the Cougars dropped the match in Houston, 4-1 (April 7), after a 4-2 comeback in Manhattan, Kan., in 2017 (March 3).

Kansas State is 3-4 to start the season, including a pair of sweeps over Drake. Reigning Big 12 Player of the Week Maralgoo Chogsomjave leads the Wildcats with three singles wins. Chogsomjave and Charlotte Keitel have a 3-3 record in doubles action to pace the Wildcat doubles pairings.

LAST TIME OUT
The Cougars comeback fell short as they fell, 4-3, to UTSA. Houston dropped the doubles point as Cortes and Schouten fell to Natalia Guerrero and Aoka Nagasawa, 6-0. Sophomore Heta Nuutinen made her doubles debut with fellow sophomore Iva Sepa as the pair lost to Valeria Sanchez and Ekua Youri, 6-3.

The Cougars tied the match on court six as sophomore Valeriia Krokhotina defeated Nagasawa, 6-4, 6-3. The Roadrunners picked up points in singles on courts four and five before the Cougars made their push.

Sepa earned a win on court two when she defeated Youri, 6-4, 6(5)-7, 6-3. After dropping the opening set, 6-1, Strombacha fought back to take the next two, 7-6(4), 6-4.

It came down to a tiebreaker in the third set on court three, but Vittori Baccino outlasted Nuutinen, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3), to clinch the match.

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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