Friday, 04/20/2012

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Houston women’s tennis team had its five-match winning streak snapped against No. 53 Tulane in a 4-0 loss in the quarterfinal round of the 2012 Conference USA Championship on Friday afternoon at Dunavant-Wellford Tennis Center.

“We just fell short in doubles and I felt like that could’ve given us the spark we needed today,” head coach John Severance said. “Tulane played great and I give them a ton of credit. Our two freshmen continued to play well and I’m proud of what this team accomplished this season.”

The Cougars entered the match having won five-consecutive decisions and eight of the last nine before Friday’s loss to end the season with a 14-8 overall record.

Houston’s Maja Kazimieruk and Charlotte Phillips evened doubles action with an 8-6 victory over Tulane’s Lindsay Dvorak and Hila Elster at the No. 3 position as the opening point came down to the top spot where the match was tied at six games apiece.

Tulane’s Mariam Kurdadze and Emma Levy claimed the final two games against Houston’s Giorgia Pozzan and Celia Fraser, however, to hand the Cougar duo only their second loss of theseason and lock up the doubles point.

Tulane opened singles play with straight-set wins at the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 6 positions to clinch the match, while Bryony Hunter and Charlotte Phillips had each claimed a set and Liselot Koenen was locked up in a tiebreaker when the match was called.

With a 14-8 record, the Cougars ended with their 10th-consecutive winning season and theeighth straight under Severance.

#53 Tulane 4, Houston 0

DOUBLES

1. Mariam Kurdadze/Emma Levy (TLN) def. Giorgia Pozzan/Celia Fraser (HOU) 8-6
2. Caroline Thornton/Caroline Magnusson (TLN) def. Liselot Koenen/Laura Ring (HOU) 8-3
3. Maja Kazimieruk/Charlotte Phillips (HOU) def. Lindsay Dvorak/Hila Elster (TLN) 8-6

Order of Finish: 2,3,1*

SINGLES

1. Mariam Kurdadze (TLN) def. Giorgia Pozzan (HOU) 6-1, 6-0
2. Emma Levy (TLN) def. Celia Fraser (HOU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Caroline Thornton (TLN) vs. Bryony Hunter (HOU) 6-3, 3-6, unfinished
4. Caroline Magnusson (TLN) vs. Liselot Koenen (HOU) 6-6 (5-1), unfinished
5. Jenny Hois (TLN) vs. Charlotte Phillips (HOU) 5-7, 0-2, unfinished
6. Lindsay Dvorak (TLN) def. Maja Kazimieruk (HOU) 6-4, 6-0

Order of Finish: 6,1,2*

*Clinching point

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