Photo by: Paul Ridings
Kats look toward spring after successful fall
12/1/2023 12:20:00 PM | Women's Tennis
HUNTSVILLE - Improved doubles play, impressive individual singles victories by returning players and solid performances by freshmen newcomers are three positives head tennis coach Rob Hubbard points to when looking back on the Sam Houston women's tennis team's performance in 2023 fall tournament play.
Sam Houston competed in four fall events: the Lamar Invitational in Beaumont, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) regional championships hosted by Baylor, Sam Houston's Bearkat round-robin event in Huntsville and the Ragin' Cajun Intercollegiate at Lafayette, La.
"There were lots of positives for us this fall," Hubbard said. "Watching the progression of our freshmen week by week certainly was exciting. The pair got better every tournament. Our returning sophomores played stronger this fall than last year. And our two seniors picked up some big wins. But, honestly, I'm probably the most excited about our improvement in doubles play."
Hubbard knows that doubles will be crucial to success for the Bearkats during their first season of competition in Conference USA.
"During our Southland Conference championship season in 2021 we rolled up a 15-4 overall dual match won-loss record," the coach recalls. "We went 11-0 in matches when we started by winning the doubles point. We were 4-4 after a doubles point loss. Doubles is so critical."
Sam Houston has a balanced roster this season with seniors Paula Cerda and Sahiti Vutukuru; junior Megan Basson; and sophomores Aaliyah Holmann, Vianne Schwab, Linn Svaerd and Yasmin El Fadili returning. Joining the squad are freshmen India Fenieys and Roberta Sechi.
"Last year we had a tough break when we lost our number one player to an injury and had to move everyone up a position in the line-up," Hubbard said. "That really made things tough. Everyone has come back ready to play and work to improve. The team got better each tournament this fall and that is a positive for us as we head into our first season in a new conference."
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Sam Houston competed in four fall events: the Lamar Invitational in Beaumont, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) regional championships hosted by Baylor, Sam Houston's Bearkat round-robin event in Huntsville and the Ragin' Cajun Intercollegiate at Lafayette, La.
"There were lots of positives for us this fall," Hubbard said. "Watching the progression of our freshmen week by week certainly was exciting. The pair got better every tournament. Our returning sophomores played stronger this fall than last year. And our two seniors picked up some big wins. But, honestly, I'm probably the most excited about our improvement in doubles play."
Hubbard knows that doubles will be crucial to success for the Bearkats during their first season of competition in Conference USA.
"During our Southland Conference championship season in 2021 we rolled up a 15-4 overall dual match won-loss record," the coach recalls. "We went 11-0 in matches when we started by winning the doubles point. We were 4-4 after a doubles point loss. Doubles is so critical."
Sam Houston has a balanced roster this season with seniors Paula Cerda and Sahiti Vutukuru; junior Megan Basson; and sophomores Aaliyah Holmann, Vianne Schwab, Linn Svaerd and Yasmin El Fadili returning. Joining the squad are freshmen India Fenieys and Roberta Sechi.
"Last year we had a tough break when we lost our number one player to an injury and had to move everyone up a position in the line-up," Hubbard said. "That really made things tough. Everyone has come back ready to play and work to improve. The team got better each tournament this fall and that is a positive for us as we head into our first season in a new conference."
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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