University of Houston Athletics
Thursday, January 22
Denton, Texas
10:30 AM
University of Houston
at
UNT
PREVIEW: Tennis Travels to North Texas and UT Arlington on Thursday
1/21/2026 12:01:00 PM | Tennis
Cougars face North Texas at 10:30 a.m. and UT Arlington at 3 p.m., Thursday
DENTON, Texas — The University of Houston Tennis team continues its season opening road swing when it travels to face North Texas and UT Arlington on Thursday.
Due to incoming inclement weather in the area, the original weekend schedule has been altered. Houston will now face North Texas at 10:30 a.m., Thursday at the Waranch Tennis Complex before heading to Arlington, Texas to face UT Arlington at 3 p.m. at the UTA Tennis Center.
Fans can watch the action against North Texas here, or follow live stats here.
LAST TIME OUT
The Cougars swept through their opening weekend defeating UC Riverside, UC Irvine and LMU, 4-0. Seniors Sophie Schouten and Chems Doha Zeghlouli completed an undefeated weekend each winning their three singles contest and teaming up for a pair of doubles victories.
Houston swept its first three opponents to start the season for the first time since 1990 and did so on the road for the first time in program history.
ABOUT HOUSTON
Houston enters its second season under the direction of Head Coach Katarina Adamovic and returns five starters from a season ago.
Junior Valeriia Krokhotina led the Cougars with eight singles wins including five in conference play. Seniors Gabriela Cortes and Sophie Schouten posted a team-high four doubles victories, two of which were against ranked opponents.
The Cougars feature a pair of new staff members in former Missouri women's tennis head coach Chris Wootton as an assistant coach and six-time All-WAC performer Santa Strombacha as a graduate assistant.
Houston added Chems Doha Zeghlouli and Petja Drame to its roster over the summer and welcomed Alexia Lavinia Puiac in December.
Zeghlouli joins the Cougars after three seasons at South Alabama where she compiled 36 singles victories including an 11-1 record in 2025. She posted a 4-0 record on court three and was undefeated in her final 11 starts.
The Paris, France, native joined forces with Schouten as they reached the Quarterfinals of the ITA Regional Championships and punched a ticket to the ITA Sectionals during the fall season.
Drame is a two-time Conference USA Champion at FIU. She won 17 singles and 11 doubles matches in her two seasons in Miami.
The Maribor, Slovenia, native earned a career-high #267 ITF Junior ranking and was a four-time member of the Slovenian National Team including posting a Slovenian Senior Masters Championship.
Puiac brings a current #7 ITF ranking, and reached as high as #5 on the ITF World Tennis Tour. She holds a WTA ranking of #1309 in singles and a career-best #1066 in doubles.
The Cluj-Napooca, Romania, native has twice been selected to represent Romania's Junior National Team and is a three-time Romanian National Champion with one singles and two doubles.
ABOUT NORTH TEXAS
North Texas opened their season with a hidden duel against TCU and Michigan State in Fort Worth, Texas. Pia Petelinsek led the way with a pair of singles wins over the weekend. The Mean Green compiled a total of four singles and two doubles victories over the weekend.
The Cougars hold a 9-3 record against the Mean Green winning five of the last six meetings. Last season, Houston swept North Texas as seniors Gabriela Cortes and Sophie Schouten helped clinch the doubles point while Schouten and junior Elizaveta Morozova registered singles victories for the Cougars.
ABOUT UT ARLINGTON
UT Arlington opens its season against Houston for the second season in a row. The Mavericks hold a 6-3 edge including winning five of the last six meetings against the Cougars.
Houston swept UT Arlington as the shorthanded Mavericks team forfeited a doubles and singles court before Schouten and Krokhotina delivered the singles points for the Cougars.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Tennis by providing NIL opportunities 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 –
Due to incoming inclement weather in the area, the original weekend schedule has been altered. Houston will now face North Texas at 10:30 a.m., Thursday at the Waranch Tennis Complex before heading to Arlington, Texas to face UT Arlington at 3 p.m. at the UTA Tennis Center.
Fans can watch the action against North Texas here, or follow live stats here.
LAST TIME OUT
The Cougars swept through their opening weekend defeating UC Riverside, UC Irvine and LMU, 4-0. Seniors Sophie Schouten and Chems Doha Zeghlouli completed an undefeated weekend each winning their three singles contest and teaming up for a pair of doubles victories.
Houston swept its first three opponents to start the season for the first time since 1990 and did so on the road for the first time in program history.
ABOUT HOUSTON
Houston enters its second season under the direction of Head Coach Katarina Adamovic and returns five starters from a season ago.
Junior Valeriia Krokhotina led the Cougars with eight singles wins including five in conference play. Seniors Gabriela Cortes and Sophie Schouten posted a team-high four doubles victories, two of which were against ranked opponents.
The Cougars feature a pair of new staff members in former Missouri women's tennis head coach Chris Wootton as an assistant coach and six-time All-WAC performer Santa Strombacha as a graduate assistant.
Houston added Chems Doha Zeghlouli and Petja Drame to its roster over the summer and welcomed Alexia Lavinia Puiac in December.
Zeghlouli joins the Cougars after three seasons at South Alabama where she compiled 36 singles victories including an 11-1 record in 2025. She posted a 4-0 record on court three and was undefeated in her final 11 starts.
The Paris, France, native joined forces with Schouten as they reached the Quarterfinals of the ITA Regional Championships and punched a ticket to the ITA Sectionals during the fall season.
Drame is a two-time Conference USA Champion at FIU. She won 17 singles and 11 doubles matches in her two seasons in Miami.
The Maribor, Slovenia, native earned a career-high #267 ITF Junior ranking and was a four-time member of the Slovenian National Team including posting a Slovenian Senior Masters Championship.
Puiac brings a current #7 ITF ranking, and reached as high as #5 on the ITF World Tennis Tour. She holds a WTA ranking of #1309 in singles and a career-best #1066 in doubles.
The Cluj-Napooca, Romania, native has twice been selected to represent Romania's Junior National Team and is a three-time Romanian National Champion with one singles and two doubles.
ABOUT NORTH TEXAS
North Texas opened their season with a hidden duel against TCU and Michigan State in Fort Worth, Texas. Pia Petelinsek led the way with a pair of singles wins over the weekend. The Mean Green compiled a total of four singles and two doubles victories over the weekend.
The Cougars hold a 9-3 record against the Mean Green winning five of the last six meetings. Last season, Houston swept North Texas as seniors Gabriela Cortes and Sophie Schouten helped clinch the doubles point while Schouten and junior Elizaveta Morozova registered singles victories for the Cougars.
ABOUT UT ARLINGTON
UT Arlington opens its season against Houston for the second season in a row. The Mavericks hold a 6-3 edge including winning five of the last six meetings against the Cougars.
Houston swept UT Arlington as the shorthanded Mavericks team forfeited a doubles and singles court before Schouten and Krokhotina delivered the singles points for the Cougars.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Tennis by providing NIL opportunities 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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