HUNTSVILLE — For only the fifth time in program history, the Sam Houston women's tennis team has opened its spring dual match schedule with three consecutive victories.
The Bearkats followed up a doubleheader win over Prairie View A&M Friday with a 6-1 result against UT Tyler Saturday. The Kats rolled off three victories in 1996, 1998, 2014 and their Southland Conference championship season in 2021.
"With only three days of practice last week due to bad weather, I thought we did well today and yesterday," Sam Houston head coach Rob Hubbard said. "UT Tyler has a very good team. I felt like we competed and fought well and took care of business in all three matches."
The Kats started Saturday's match with victories at the one and two positions to earn the doubles point. UT Tyler held a match point in the number two position that would have reversed that results but freshmen Vianne Schwab and Roberta Sechi roared back to earn a 7-5 victory. Megan Bason and Paul Cerda helped earned the number one doubles point with 6-4 win.
"We had our backs against the wall in doubles but then responded," Hubbard said. "We were a little slow at the start but proud of the way they kept fighting."
Sam Houston followed up with five singles victories to close out UT Tyler thanks to strong performances by Kat senior Paula Cerda, freshmen India Fenieys and Roberta Sechi and sophomore Vianne Schwab.
"Our freshmen stepped up nicely in their singles and Robi was a double winner with the doubles victory," Hubbard said. "Paula had a great weekend posting six victories by winning three singles and three doubles."
Next the Bearkats pack their bags for a tough five-match road swing that starts with matches in San Marcos versus Texas State and San Antonio against UTSA.
"We're really going to be tested next week," Hubbard said. "Both Texas State and UTSA are teams we lost to last season. I like the makeup of our team this year and am happy about our effort this weekend."
Sam Houston's road swing also will pit the Kats against Northwestern State and South Alabama in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and LSU Shreveport in Shreveport. The Bearkats return to the McAdams Tennis Center for home contests versus McNeese and Lamar on Feb. 18 and 23.
Individual Results from Saturday's match:
Sam Houston 6, UT Tyler 1
Singles competition
1. Muskan Gupta (UTT-W) def. Megan Basson (SHSU) 7-5, 6-4
2. Paula Cerda (SHSU) def. Yelena Kim (UTT-W) 6-0, 6-0
3. India Fenieys (SHSU) def. Allison Schwartz (UTT-W) 6-4, 6-4
4. Vianne Schwab (SHSU) def. Kanika Sivaraman (UTT-W) 6-1, 6-2
5. Roberta Sechi (SHSU) def. Luisa Moraes (UTT-W) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8)
6. Aaliyah Hohmann (SHSU) def. Anna Melnik (UTT-W) 6-0, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Megan Basson/Paula Cerda (SHSU) def. Muskan Gupta/Allison Schwartz (UTT-W) 6-4
2. Vianne Schwab/Roberta Sechi (SHSU) def. Yelena Kim/Kanika Sivaraman (UTT-W) 7-5
3. Elisa Buhagiar/Luisa Moraes (UTT-W) def. India Fenieys/Aaliyah Hohmann (SHSU) 6-3
