Houston tennis returned home looking to rebound after back-to-back losses against Arizona State and Arizona. The Cougars hosted Texas Tech and Colorado over the weekend, hoping to get back on track in conference play. After splitting the two matches, Houston moved to 3-3 in conference competition.
On Friday, March 13, the Cougars faced Texas Tech and got off to a slow start in doubles play. Juniors Iva Sepa and Valeriia Krokhotina fell 6-3, while seniors Sophie Schouten and Chems Doha Zeghlouli lost 6-4, giving Texas Tech the doubles point.
Houston struggled early in singles as well. Zeghlouli dropped her match 6-2, 6-2, and junior Elizaveta Morozova followed with a 6-3, 6-3 loss. The Cougars trailed 3-0 and needed to sweep the remaining four singles matches to stay alive.
Sepa sparked a comeback, winning 6-1, 6-4. Krokhotina followed with a 6-4, 6-4 victory, and Schouten added another point with a 6-3, 6-2 win to tie the match at 3-3.
The match came down to junior Petja Drame, who battled but ultimately fell 6-1, 8-6. Texas Tech secured the 4-3 victory, handing Houston its third consecutive loss and dropping the Cougars to 2-3 in conference play.
Houston bounced back Sunday against Colorado.
The doubles matches were tightly contested, with all three coming down to the wire. Morozova and Drame opened with a 6-4 win. Schouten and Zeghlouli then clinched the doubles point for Houston with a 7-5 victory.
The momentum carried into singles play. Krokhotina defeated junior Ema Bubalo 6-0, 6-4, and Schouten followed with a 7-5, 6-4 win to give Houston a 3-0 lead.
The Cougars needed just one more point to secure the match, and Morozova delivered with a 6-2, 6-3 victory, sealing a 4-0 win for Houston.
With the split weekend, the Cougars improved their conference record to 3-3. Houston will look to move above the .500 mark on the road against Kansas on Friday, March 20, at 5 p.m., and Iowa State on Sunday, March 22, at noon.
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