April 9, 2016
Freshman Tamuna Kutubidze enters the weekend on a five-match win streak at the No. 2. (Photo by Rick Yeatts)
North Texas (9-9) at Houston (5-16)
Sunday, April 10, 2016 | 12 p.m. CT
John E. Hoff Courts | Houston, TX
Live Stats: UHCougars.com
DENTON -- As the 2016 nears its end, the North Texas tennis team takes to the road for its final regular season contest away from Denton as the Mean Green will challenge the Houston Cougars at noon on Sunday, April 10, from the John E. Hoff Courts.
With less than 14 days remaining between now and the Conference USA Tournament in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, building momentum has been the focus for head coach Sujay Lama's team. North Texas enters the weekend having won four of its last six contests, with both losses in that span coming by way of 4-3 scores.
North Texas (9-9) dropped its most recent outing, a Tuesday match versus SMU in Dallas. Despite a disappointing finish, the Mean Green did get solid efforts out of freshman Tamuna Kutubidze and senior Agustina Valenzuela. The former has won her last five singles matches and is 10-4 this dual season, while the latter is a team-best 11-5 in singles matchups this spring.
The Last Meeting
| #28 Houston | 4 |
| |
| North Texas | 2 |
April 5, 2015
Dallas, TX
Kutubidze, Valenzuela and freshman
Maria Kononova (8-9 at the No.1) have anchored a Mean Green team that continues to make adjustments to its lineup throughout the season's final weeks.
"UH is a talented team and we have to be ready to compete hard," Lama said. "We are very close to putting all the pieces together and that's been the focus for us lately. These last two matches before the conference tournament will give us the opportunity to do just that."
Houston (5-16) enters the weekend having lost eight of its previous nine matches. Even so, the Cougars still have plenty of talent on the courts. That includes junior Vogasari Despoina who has amassed a 20-12 singles record, including a 10-9 mark at the No. 1 spot this spring. Despoila joins senior Rocio Martin in leading the team in doubles play, going 10-4 at the top position.
Fans are encouraged to follow the match as it happens through live scoring. That can be found
here.
With the North Texas tennis team down 3-2 against No. 28 Houston on Sunday morning, Alexis Thoma and Agustina Valenzuela both had to win in order for the Mean Green to pull off the upset.
