Holding serve times two: Cougars sweep up New Mexico, UTRGV

Houston women’s tennis had a standout performance Saturday, sweeping both New Mexico by a mark of 4-0 and UTRGV 7-0 later that day.

The victories push the Cougars’ winning streak to seven in a row, which marks a season-opening best start for the program.

Houston’s 7-0 start also gives it more wins this season than in the last two seasons combined which saw just six victories.

The Cougars started the day strong against New Mexico, with junior duo Valeria Krokhotina and Iva Sepa winning 6-3 on court two.

Senior duo Sophie Schouten and Chems Doha Zeghlouli kept the wins coming achieving a 6-2

win over the Corley sisters on court one to clinch the doubles point.

On the singles side Schouten kept the winning streak going defeating Ramona Petre 6-4, 6-2.

Later, Krokhotina got a win by taking down Lea Malazdra 6-1, 6-4.

Zeghlouli closed out the win for the Cougars taking down Vianca Corley 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

The Cougars started off hot in their second match of the day. Junior duo Elizaveta Morozova and Petja Drame shutting out their opponent 6-0 on court one.

Coach Katarina Adamovic liked what the team did, but still thinks there’s room for improvement. “Winning is not enough,” Adamovic said. “We played below our standard and as a team we just gotta do better.”

Schouten and Zeghlouli continued their momentum from their first match, clinching a 6-1 on court one to clinch the doubles point.

Schouten kept her hot streak going by allowing only one point against Valentia Urraco, winning 6-1, 6-0. 

Drame would follow the win by getting one of her own, winning 6-2, 6-1 over Mariia Bakhtina.

Houston kept stacking victories as freshman Alexia Lavinia Puiac notched her second singles win of her career, defeating Hitakamya Narwal 6-2, 6-3, and Zeghlouli defeated Rhea Makesar on court 6-3, 6-2, and Morozova picking up a 7-5, 6-3 win over Barbara Martinez.

Sepa, despite a slow start, finished the sweep for the Cougars. She won in extra games 7-6 on the first set, then clinching a 6-3 on set two, defeating Luna Buijtenhuijs.

The Cougars will look to keep their undefeated season alive as they take on UTSA on Feb. 13  at the Barbara Wallace Winston Tennis Facility.