Saturday, 09/29/2012

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – University of Houston junior Dionne Sanders highlighted the opening day of action for the women’s tennis team at the SFA Fall Invite on Friday at the Schlief Tennis Complex.

Sanders kicked off the tournament with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Anastasia Surkova ofMcNeese State and followed with another convincing straight-sets win (6-2, 6-3) against Sam Houston State’s Kayla Stevenson in the semifinals. The Stourbridge, U.K., native will face off against Northwestern State’s Polina Konop in Saturday’s flight C final.

Three other Cougars notched singles victories on Friday, highlighted by the firstcollegiate victory for freshman Gabriella Jansson as she topped Britney Sibley of Jacksonville College by a score of 6-2, 6-1.

Celia Fraser posted an opening-round victory over Imke Jagua by a score of 6-4, 6-3 before falling in straight sets to Malena Gordo of Stephen F. Austin in the semifinals, while Maja Kazimieruk bounced back from a first-round loss with a gutty 0-6, 6-2, 10-4 defeat of Stephen F. Austin’s Valeria Terentyeva.

The Cougar duo of Jansson and Sanders scored the only doubles win for Houston on Friday, topping Northwestern State’s Simonova and Leyshyna by a score of 8-3 before falling in the semifinals.

Friday’s Results
 

Singles Flight A

Celia Fraser (UH) def. Imke Jagua (SHSU), 6-4, 6-3 (Quarterfinal)

Malena Gordo (SFA) def. Celia Fraser (UH), 6-2, 6-3 (Semifinal)


Singles Flight B

Nataly Krutova (NWST) def. Maja Kazimieruk (UH), 6-2, 6-2 (Quarterfinal)

Maja Kazimieruk (UH) def. Valeria Terentyeva (SFA), 0-6, 6-2, 10-4 (Consolation)
 

Singles Flight C

Dionne Sanders (UH) def. Anastasia Surkova (McN), 6-3, 6-2 (Quarterfinal)

Dionne Sanders (UH) def. Kayla Stevenson (SHSU), 6-2, 6-3 (Semifinal)

Singles Flight D

Gabriella Jansson (UH) def. Britney Sibley (JC), 6-2, 6-1 (Quarterfinal)

Laura Servise (SFA) def. Gabriella Jansson (UH), 6-2, 6-3 (Semifinal)

Doubles Flight A

Pujol/Surkova (McN) def. Fraser/Kazimieruk (UH), 8-4 (Quarterfinal)

Postnikova/Dubyanskaya (SHSU) def. Fraser/Kazimieruk (UH), 8-3 (Consolation)

Doubles Flight B

Jansson/Sanders (UH) def. Simonva/Leyshyna (NWST), 8-3 (Quarterfinal)

Corriel/Petaia (SHSU) def. Jansson/Sanders (UH), 8-4 (Semifinal)

Steven/Mortimore (SHSU) def. Jansson/Sanders (UH), 8-6 (Consolation 3rd Place)
 

Saturday’s Schedule

Singles Flight A Consolation Third-Place Match

Celia Fraser (UH) vs. Polina Konop (NWST)

Singles Flight B Consolation Fifth-Place Match

Maja Kazimieruk (UH) vs. Lara Pujol (McN)

Singles Flight C Finals

Dionne Sanders (UH) vs. Kateryna Bugayenko (SFA)

 Singles Flight D Consolation Third-Place Match

Gabriella Jansson (UH) vs. Diana Pircui (McN)