Tennis

Senior nets win again

Senior Giorgia Pozzan earned her second singles title of the fall with three wins at the Robert Alison Classic. Pozzan led UH last season with 27 wins, and is off to a 6-0 start this fall. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

Senior Giorgia Pozzan earned her second singles title of the fall with three wins at the Robert Alison Classic. Pozzan led UH last season with 27 wins, and is off to a 6-0 start this fall. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

Senior Giorgia Pozzan led the Cougars through another successful outing, capturing her second consecutive singles title in tournament play at the Robert Alison Classic hosted by the University of Alabama over the weekend.

Pozzan defeated Lindsey Mallory of Samford 7-5, 6-2, and Mississippi State’s Olesya Tsigvintseva in straight sets before taking out Elja van Berlo of Southern Miss.

“The first day, it wasn’t typical Giorgia,” head coach John Severance said. “She wasn’t playing at her best and she knew it. She got through it — she obviously gutted out two wins.

“And Saturday was totally different — typical Giorgia — she came through quite easily.”

Pozzan opened the season with a win at the SDSU Fall Classic and is now a perfect 6-0 in singles play.

Severance said that the senior has worked hard to improve her discipline and focus during matches.

“We’ve been working on her mental game and that’s paid off,” Severance said.

Pozzan also teamed with junior Bryony Hunter in doubles play, earning two wins and the consolation title for their bracket.

“Bryony played well this week in doubles,” Severance said. “And Charlotte (Phillips) is starting to put things together and rack up some wins.”

Phillips, a freshman, improved to 3-3 for the year after defeating Jill Furlong of West Alabama (6-3, 6-1) to claim the consolation title for her bracket.

After facing challenging opponents at the SDSU Fall Classic, junior Maja Kazimieruk hoped to rebound but was forced to withdraw during the second set of her first match on Saturday.

“I think Maja’s had a string of tough luck,” Severance said.

“She’s lost to two nationally ranked singles players. And then she won the first set of her last match but had to withdraw. She’s played quite well, but the results haven’t showed.”

The Cougars will be back in action Friday for the five-day ITA Regional in Fort Worth.

The Cougars will follow that with their first homestand of the season with the Cougar Fall Draw running from Nov. 4-6 at the John E. Hoff Courts.

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