Kats bounce back at UTSA

Friday, February 14

San Antonio

2:00 PM

UTSA

Photo by: Grace-Anne Matocha

Kats bounce back at UTSA

2/14/2020 8:25:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

SAN ANTONIO — The Sam Houston State tennis team snapped it's three-match losing streak with a 4-3 victory over UTSA Friday at the UTSA Tennis Center.

The Bearkats (5-4) set the tone by winning the doubles point.

After losing at No. 1 doubles, sophomore Petra Kaszas and Constandena Nicolaou squared the doubles point up at 1-1 by winning 7-5 at No.3 doubles. Juniors Sahaja Yamalapalli and Karla De La Luz Montalvo defeated Kylee Kato and Catalina Cabrique 7-6 (7-2) at No. 2 doubles to secure the point.

"Winning the doubles point proved to be big for us today," head coach Rob Hubbard said. "Sahaja and Karla saved a match point to come back and win the deciding doubles match and earn us that valuable first point."

Yamalapalli cruised past Jasmin Starr 6-1, 6-2 at No. 1 singles, while De La Luz Montalvo defeated Laura Munoz-Baroja in the No. 3 spot 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. Sophomore Isidora Zivkovic clinched the match for the Bearkats with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles.

Nicolaou fell 6-0, 4-6, 1-6 at No. 4 singles, senior Lusine Chobanyan lost 4-6, 5-7 at No. 5 and freshman Emma Goedkoop also lost in a close, three-set match 4-6, 7-6, 6-7.

"We played very gritty today and were able to capture three of the six singles. We were in a position to win the remaining three singles but came up a bit short," Hubbard said. "I am very proud of the fighting effort the team displayed today. It will serve us well later in the upcoming conference season."

The Bearkats have a break before they open Southland Conference play on the road at Nicholls on Feb. 28.