The UH tennis team started its’ season in a solid manner, posting victories over Portland State (7-0) and Idaho (4-3), before falling to Oregon (6-1) Jan. 23-25 in Oregon.
The Cougars fought hard in their loss to Oregon, but were outmatched by superior athletes.’
UH’s only doubles win came in the No. 1 doubles slot, where senior Vicky Simpson and sophomore Lucy Forward claimed an 8-4 victory over sophomores Stephanie Macfarlane and Pavlina Smatova.
The Cougars dropped their other two doubles matches, along with five of their six singles matches. UH’s sole singles victory, and its only point in the match, came from freshman Alix Young, who defeated sophomore Siobhan Cavan 6-4, 6-3.
After losing their first two matches against Idaho, the Cougars stormed back with singles victories, courtesy of Young and Simpson. Young took care of sophomore Yvette Ly 6-2, 7-5, while Simpson crushed sophomore Jana Siwa 6-3, 6-0
Senior Lynley Wasson gave UH its third straight victory of the day when she topped sophomore Silvia Irimescu 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Sophomore Joanna Kacprzyk dropped her match to sophomore Barbara Maciocha 4-6, 5-7, but junior Neila Starratt came through in the final match of the day, defeating Alexandra Ulesanu 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
In their season opener, the Cougars dominated Portland State, dropping zero sets en route to a dominating 7-0 victory. Sophomore Laura Ring came closest to losing a set in her 6-4, 6-1 victory over sophomore Anya Dalkin, while Simpson blanked freshman Kylea Gleason 6-0, 6-0.
Wasson made quick work of sophomore Molly Knox, winning 6-2, 6-2, and Young topped freshman Victoria Bravo 6-2, 6-0.
Forward and Ring claimed an 8-1 doubles victory over sophomore Caitlin Stockling and Knox. Young and senior Jordan McCombs teamed up to top sophomore Alyssa Ferry and Dalkin 8-4.
The Cougars final doubles win in the match came from Kacprzyk and Wasson when the duo demolished Bravo and Gleason 8-1.
UH continues its season against Steven F. Austin and Louisiana Tech on Saturday in Nacogdoches.
