HOUSTON – The ULM tennis team suffered a 5-2 loss to Houston Friday morning at the Barbara Wallace Winston Tennis Facility.
"Today was a good opportunity to learn more about the team and what we need to work on," ULM head coach
Abdelrahman Zaki said. "Even though we have only had five players practicing due to injuries and illness, we showed toughness today and played to win. It was a tough loss and a match that we could have won if we took advantage of all the game points we created, but unfortunately, never finished."
The Cougars took the first point of the day by sweeping doubles.
Houston's Gabriela Giraldo and Elena Trencheva defeated ULM sophomore
Giovanna Pereira and senior
Brianna Gomez, 6-3, at No. 3 doubles.
The Cougars sealed the point at No. 2 doubles, where Blanca Cortijo Parreno and Laura Slisane defeated senior
Jimena Paula Garbino and senior
Madalina Grigoriu, 6-3.
UH completed the doubles sweep with Azul Pedemonti and Maria Dzemeshkevich's win over junior
Hala Badwy and freshman
Alessandra Anghel at No. 1 doubles, 6-4.
In singles play, Houston took a 2-0 lead when Giraldo defeated Pereira at No. 6 singles, 6-0, 6-1. UH extended the lead to 3-0 with Pedemonti's 6-1, 6-2 win over Grigoriu at No. 3 singles. The Cougars sealed the match with Sophie Gerits' victory over Garbino at No. 4 singles, 6-4, 6-1.
ULM picked up a couple of late points when Gomez topped Cortijo Parreno, 7-6 (5), 6-3, at No. 5 singles. Badwy had the Warhawks' other win at No. 1 singles, besting Slisane, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (6). Dzmeshkevich topped Anghel at No. 2 singles, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 1-0 (8).
"Credit goes to Houston's players who played well at the big moments," Zaki said. "Fantastic wins for Hala and Brianna, who closed out their matches in two sets against tough opponents. We will build on today and be back stronger on Wednesday."
ULM is back in action at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Louisiana Tech.
Doubles competition
1. Azul Pedemonti/Maria Dzemeshkevich (UH) def.
Hala Badwy/
Alessandra Anghel (ULM) 6-4
2. Blanca Cortijo Parreno/Laura Slisane (UH) def.
Jimena Paula Garbino/
Madalina Grigoriu (ULM) 6-3
3. Gabriela Giraldo/Elena Trencheva (UH) def.
Giovanna Pereira/
Brianna Gomez (ULM) 6-3
Singles competition
1.
Hala Badwy (ULM) def. Laura Slisane (UH) 7-6 (4), 7-6 (6)
2. Maria Dzemeshkevich (UH) def.
Alessandra Anghel (ULM) 4-6, 7-6 (5), 1-0 (8)
3. Azul Pedemonti (UH) def.
Madalina Grigoriu (ULM) 6-1, 6-2
4. Sophie Gerits (UH) def.
Jimena Paula Garbino (ULM) 6-4, 6-1
5.
Brianna Gomez (ULM) def. Blanca Cortijo Parreno (UH) 7-6 (5), 6-3
6. Gabriela Giraldo (UH) def.
Giovanna Pereira (ULM) 6-0, 6-1
