HUNTSVILLE – Down 3-1 in the final set of the deciding singles match, Megan Basson battled back to take the No. 2 singles point and clinch Sam Houston a victory over UTEP in the women's tennis team's inaugural Conference USA  dual match Wednesday at the McAdams Tennis Center.

After dropping the doubles point, the Bearkats rallied to win four of the six singles contest to produce a 4-3 victory over the Miners. Paula Cerda, India Fenieys and Linn Svaerd earned the other three singles points.

"The way our players battled back from the doubles point loss was so impressive," Bearkat head coach Rob Hubbard said. "The team fought like crazy. The determination they showed to win our first Conference USA match was awesome."

Paula Cerda started things with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Veronika Lebisova at the No. 1 position.  Linn Svaerd picked up match win number two coming from behind 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 versus Paloma Hennicaux. India Fenieys posted the third point as the freshman defeated Elena DiBattista 7-6, 6-3 in the No. 4 slot.

"Our ladies did a great job of fighting hard," Hubbard said. "This match is the start of a new season – conference play - and we are 1-0."

UTEP earned their two singles points as Hanna Telzynski defeated Sahithi Vutukuru 6-2, 6-4 at No. 3 singles and Zuzanna Szczepanska won versus Roberta Sechi 6-3, 6-0 in the No. 6 position. Basson and Cerda defeated Lebisova and Zuzanna Szczepanska 6-1 in the number one position for the Kats' only doubles victory.

The comeback win upped Sam Houston's season record to 6-5. The Bearkats have won three of their last four contests. The Kats  play their next three matches on the road as they take on Abilene Christian in a non-conference contest Saturday afternoon. Sam Houston returns to CUSA league action Friday March 22 in Lynchburg, Va., when they take on Liberty.

Sam Houston 4, UTEP 3 
Singles competition
1. Paula Cerda (SHSU) def. Veronika Lebisova (UTEP) 6-3, 6-2
2. Megan Basson (SHSU) def. Carlotta Mencaglia (UTEP) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
3. Hanna Telzynski (UTEP) def. Sahithi Vutukuru (SHSU) 6-2, 6-4
4. India Fenieys (SHSU) def. Elena DiBattista (UTEP) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
5. Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) def. Roberta Sechi (SHSU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Linn Svaerd (SHSU) def. Paloma Hennicaux (UTEP) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Megan Basson/Paula Cerda (SHSU) def. Veronika Lebisova/Zuzanna Szczepanska (UTEP) 6-1
2. Carlotta Mencaglia/Hanna Telzynski (UTEP) def. Vianne Schwab/Roberta Sechi (SHSU) 6-2
3. DeCora Antoine/Elena DiBattista (UTEP) def. India Fenieys/Sahithi Vutukuru (SHSU) 6-2

Team Records : UTEP 1-9 Sam Houston 6-5
Singles Order of Finish: No. 5, 1, 3,6,4,2