Tennis Suffers First Loss
Feb. 5, 2005
The Houston tennis team suffered its first defeat of the 2005 season as the Cougars fell 6-1 to Furman on Friday afternoon. Despite the 6-1 score, the Cougars were within striking distance and had their chances to come away with a victory. However, the play of five returning athletes and the experience of a team one year removed from an NCAA Tournament berth, was too much for the Cougars to overcome. With the loss the Cougars fall to 1-1 on the season while the Lady Paladins improve to 1-1. "Our team played some tough matches today," said Houston first-year head coach John Severance. "We had our chance, but in the end their experience won out." Furman started off the match by winning the No. 1 and the No. 3 spots in doubles while senior Biljana Dimovska and junior Yolandi Terblanche claimed the No. 2 doubles. Down 1-0 heading into singles play, Dimovska gave the Cougars a lift by knocking off the Lady Paladins' No. 1 player in Mary Neill Hagood with a 6-4, 6-4 match win. Freshman Brianna Bateup came up short in at the No. 3 singles position as she nearly forced a third set before falling 6-3, 7-5 to Caroline Bentley. At the No. 4 position junior Kami Miller fell in her first set to Marti Morris but rebounded with a 6-4 win in the second set to force a third. However, Miller wasn't able to hold on an dropped the match 6-2 to Morris. The No. 5 spot was a battle between Houston junior Yolandi Terblanche and Jacqueline Eckert. The first set went out in a 7-6 (4) duel before Eckert pulled out the win. The second set also went Eckert's way to give her a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win.
Houston will stay out on the road as they travel to Georgia State to face the Panthers on Sunday afternoon at 10:00 am (EDT).
Houston v. Furman (February 4, 2005)
Doubles |
