Defending Co-Champs Next for Kats
3/28/2019 10:50:00 AM | Women's Tennis
MATCHES 15 & 16
Friday, March 29 • Corpus Christi, Texas • 12 noon • Henry Tennis Center
Sam Houston State (10-4, 4-1) vs. A&M-Corpus Christi (10-3, 3-1)
Sunday, March 31 • Beaumont, Texas • 2 p.m. • Thompson Tennis Center
Sam Houston State (10-4, 4-1) vs. Lamar (4-11, 1-4)
HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS – Winners in seven of their last eight dual matches, the Sam Houston women's team faces the toughest portion of their 2019 Southland Conference schedule as the Bearkats play four of their six final regular season contests on the road.
First up is three-time defending league champion A&M-Corpus Christi Friday at 12 noon at the Henry Tennis Center. The Islanders have raised the Southland Conference championship trophy four times in the past five years, winning the crown outright in both 2016 and 2017 and tying for the title with Northwestern State in 2014 and McNeese last year.
The Bearkats currently stand third in the 2019 league standings with a 4-1 record. Undefeated Northwestern State (5-0) and Abilene Christian (4-0) rank first and second, respectively. The Kats' only league loss came at the hands of ACU two weeks ago in Abilene. Central Arkansas (3-1) and A&M-Corpus Christi (2-1) sit in fourth and fifth place respectively. McNeese (2-2), Stephen F. Austin (2-3) and Southeastern Louisiana (1-2) follow. Lamar (1-4) ranks ninth in the Southland race.
Sam Houston brings a three-match winning streak into the contest. The Kats defeated UIW 4-3 in San Antonio March 11 then bested Stephen F. Austin 7-0 to remain unbeaten at the McAdams Tennis Center March 16. The SHSU topped non-conference foe UTEP 5-1 at Walden Tennis Club in Montgomery March 18.
The Bearkats, 10-4 overall in 2019, have built their success on strong singles play. The team sports an overall singles won-loss record of 56-24 in dual match action. Top dual match singles marks on the team include Sahaja Yamalapalli (11-3), Isidora Zivkovic (10-3), Roos Gerritsen (10-2), Lusine Chobanyan (8-4) and Karla De La Luz Montalvo (9-5).
Yamalapalli has won her last eight singles matches in a row and holds a 5-0 mark in league play. Zivkovic, Chobanyan and De La Luz Montalvo all stand 4-1 in Southland action.
SERIES vs. A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI
The Islanders hold a 13-8 advantage over the Bearkats in the pair's all-time series. A&M-Corpus Christi owns a nine-match winning streak in the rivalry. Sam Houston's last victory was a 4-3 win in Huntsville in 2010. The Kats have not won in Corpus Christi since 2009.
SERIES vs. LAMAR
The Cardinals own a 27-10 all-time tennis record against Sam Houston. The Bearkats have won the last two meetings (5-2 in Beaumont in 2017 and 6-1 in Huntsville in 2018).
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, March 29 – SHSU at A&M-Corpus Christi; Stephen F. Austin at Lamar; McNeese at Northwestern State; Nicholls at Abilene Christian; Southeastern Louisiana at Central Arkansas; New Orleans at UIW
Sunday, March 31 – SHSU at Lamar; Stephen F. Austin at A&M-Corpus Christi; New Orleans at Abilene Christian; Nicholls at UIW; Central Arkansas at McNeese; Southeastern Louisiana at Northwestern State
UP NEXT
Sam Houston will play host to Northwestern State on Friday, April 5 and Central Arkansas on Sunday, April 7 in the final two home 2019 dual matches at the McAdams Tennis Center.
