BEAUMONT — The Sam Houston tennis team opened the 2022 Western Athletic Tournament with a thrilling 4-2 victory over rival Stephen F. Austin on Friday at the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center.
The Bearkats outlasted the Ladyjacks in a dual match that saw the decisive point go three sets.
Sam Houston was leading 3-2 with two close matches still in progress, but
Andjela Vidovic came through in a big way at No. 2 singles. She grinded out a 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 win over Anastasia Kouchnareva to send the Kats to a semifinal matchup with New Mexico State on Saturday.
The Bearkats were down 2-0 after losing the doubles point and at No. 6 singles.
Sahithi Vutukuru got Sam Houston on the board with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Elena Bleicher at No. 4 singles. WAC Freshman of the Year
Megan Basson tied the match with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) win over Nyah Kauders at No. 1.
Lusine Chobanyan gave the Bearkats the lead for good with a 7-6, 6-2 victory in No. 3 singles over Paula Cerda.
Sam Houston came close to winning the doubles point after Vidovic and Vutukuru defeated Kauders and Cerda 6-2 at No. 2.
Lusine Chobanyan and
Sunskrithi Damera played Anastasia Kouchnareva and Elena Bleicher in an epic No. 3 match. SFA was eventually able to come away with the win 7-6 (8-6) to secure the doubles point.
