March 19, 2005

ORLANDO, Fla. - Playing their second match in Florida this weekend, the Cougar tennis team stumbled in a hard-fought 4-3 match to the UCF Golden Knights in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday morning.

The Cougars had an early wakeup call for the match that had a start time of 10 a.m. (EDT), but weren't able to comeback after falling behind 1-0 after the doubles competition.

The unbeaten tandem of senior Biljana Dimovska and junior Yolandi Terblanche, took their match at the No. 1 spot with an easy 8-1 score that improved the duo to 6-0 on the year.

However, the Cougars fell in the No. 2 and 3 positions to forfeit the doubles point to the Golden Knights.

In singles, the Cougars snatched the lead with wins by junior Kami Miller at No. 3, senior Diana Martin at No. 4 and Terblanche at No. 5, to lead UCF at 3-2 with a loss at the No. 6 spot by freshman Tiffany McLoughlin.

The Cougars needed a win from either freshman Brianna Bateup at No. 2 or Dimovska at No. 1 to secure the victory. Bateup's match resulted in a two-set loss, leaving Dimovska as the Cougars last chance for a win.

With the match on the line, Dimovska and Kristina Lohmos battled through a three-match set that saw Dimovska take the first set 6-7 (5), before Lohomos won out with a 6-4, 6-3 finish in the last two sets.

Houston (10-6) returns home to face Lee College on Wednesday at the John E. Hoff Tennis Courts at 2 p.m.

UCF 4
Houston 3

Singles
1. Kristina Lohmos (UCF) def. Biljana Dimovska (UH), 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3
2. Pamela Fernandez (UCF) def. Brianna Bateup (UH), 6-4, 7-5
3. Kami Miller (UH) def. Ola Luczak (UCF), 6-1, 6-3
4. Diana Martin (UH) def. Jennifer Carati (UCF), 6-0, 6-3
5. Yolani Terblanche (UH) def. Anna Yakimchenkova (UCF), 6-3, 6-1
6. Kyla McNicol (UCF) def. Tiffany McLoughlin (UH), 6-0, 6-3

Doubles
1. Dimovska/Terblanche (UH) def. Fernandez/Becky Gordon (UCF), 8-1
2. Lohmos/McNicol (UCF) def. Martin/Miller (UH), 8-4
3. Megan Hunter/Yakimchenkova (UCF) def. Bateup/Sarah Reimer (UH), 8-3