Tennis Opens Road Trip With Loss at Rice

HOUSTON – The University of Tennis team dropped its first match of the season, 4-0, to Rice at the George R. Brown Tennis Center on Wednesday evening.

The Owls (5-1) opened doubles action on court one as #85 Fernanda Martinez and Darya Schwartzman defeated sophomore Elizaveta Morozova and fifth year Santa Strombacha, 6-2.

After building an early 5-3 lead, juniors Gabriela Cortes and Sophie Schouten suffered their first doubles defeat of the season as they fell, 7-6 (7-3), to Francesca Maguina and Saara Orav on court three.

The Cougars (3-1) struggled to find momentum in singles as Nithesa Selvaraj allowed just one point in defeating sophomore Heta Nuutinen, 6-1, 6-0, on court three.

On court two, Divna Ratkovic bested sophomore Iva Sepa, 6-2, 6-0, before Martinez clinched the match with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Schouten on court five.

MATCH RESULTS
Singles
Darya Schwartzman (RICE) vs. #79 Santa Strombacha (HOU) 6-4, 1-2, unfinished
Divna Ratkovic (RICE) def. Iva Sepa (HOU) 6-2, 6-0
Nithesa Selvaraj (RICE) def. Heta Nuutinen (HOU) 6-1, 6-0
Francesca Maguina (RICE) vs. Elizaveta Morozova (HOU) 4-6, 2-0, unfinished
Fernanda Martinez (RICE) def. Sophie Schouten (HOU) 6-2, 6-1
Saara Orav (RICE) vs. Valeriia Krokhotina (HOU) 3-6, 3-2, unfinished

Doubles
Fernanda Martinez/Darya Schwartzman (RICE) def. Santa Strombacha/Elizaveta Morozova (HOU) 6-2
Divna Ratkovic/Nithesa Selvaraj (RICE) vs. Iva Sepa/Valeriia Krokhotina (HOU) 6-6 (5-3), unfinished
Francesca Maguina/Saara Orav (RICE) def. Sophie Schouten/Gabriela Cortes (HOU) 7-6 (7-3)

UP NEXT
The Cougars head to Dallas to face SMU at noon, Friday, at the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex before wrapping non-conference action at UTSA at 10 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 16 from the UTSA Tennis Center.

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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