HOUSTON – Four Sam Houston women's tennis players earned victories in contests among a strong field of quality Texas collegiate programs in the annual Rice University Invitational last Thursday through Saturday on the Owl campus. 

"Our annual appearance in the Rice fall tournament is a tradition for Bearkat tennis," Sam Houston head coach Rob Hubbard said.  "Just as in past years, the competition always gives us a strong test as we start the schedule." 

Joining the Kats in the tournament were teams from University of Houston, SMU, Texas A&M, UTRGV, UTSA, and the host Owl squad. 

Senior Jacqueline Schnabel from Austin, Sara Sadedinovic from Tuzia Bosnia, junior Ella Fitcher from Melbourne, Australia and freshman Anamaria Kurtsikashvili from Tbisili, Ga., all posted singles victories to highlight the competition. 

"We learned a lot about what we need to be concentrating upon as we build for our spring schedule and conference play," Coach Hubbard said. "We had some ups and some downs during the weekend as we got our feet wet. We have three more tournaments this fall as we continue to work to improve." 

Sam Houston will hit the road for the ACU Invitational September 26-28 and the ITA Regionals at TCU in Fort Worth October 9-12. SHSU hosts the Bearkat Classic at the Beckman Tennis Center October 17-19 and concludes with a trip to San Marcos for the Texas State Invitational Nov. 1-2. 

2025 RICE INVITATIONAL RESULTS - Sept. 19-21, 2025 
FLIGHT ONE SINGLES 
   1R – Tide Stromquist, TAMU def. Christine Jevicky, SHSU 6-0 6-3 
   Consolation - Nithesha Selvara, RICE def. Jevicky, SHSU 6-1 retired 

FLIGHT TWO SINGLES 
   1R – Valerie Krokhotina, HOU def. Nayuma Subba, SHSU 6-0 6-1 
   Consolation - Subba, SHSU def. Anna Perelman, TAMU default 
    Sue Stasny, SMU def. Subba, SHSU 4-6 6-1 6-3 
  
FLIGHT THREE SINGES  
  1R – Anushka Ashar, RICE def. Anamaria Kurtsikashvili, SHSU 6-2 6-4 
   Consolation – Anamaria Kurtsikashvili, SHSU def. Natalie Drame, HOU 6-2 6-3 
   Casy Castaneda, HOU def. Anamaria Kurtsikashvili, SHSU 6-1 6-2 

FLIGHT FOUR SINGLES 
   1R – Valentina Ponce, RICE def. Aaliyah Hohmann, SHSU  6-4 7-6 (2) 
   Consolation - Aaliyah Hohmann, SHSU def. Gabriela Cortes, HOU default 
       Aoka Nagasawa, UTSA def. Aliyah Hohmann, SHSU 6-0 6-0 
   1R – Addison  Cominskey, SMU def. Adithi Krishnan, SHSU 6-1 6-2 
    Consolation – Aoka Nagasawa, UTSA def. Krishnan, SHSU 6-1 4-6 6-3 
 
FLIGHT FIVE SINGLES 
  1R – Jacqueline Schnabel, SHSU def. Mikisavkhevic, UTSA 6-2 6-3 
  SF – Jacqueline Schnabel, SHSU vs. Petelinsek, UNT 6-4 6-1 
  F – Danela Chica, RICE def. Schnabel, SHSU 7-6 6-3 
  1R – Donna Chica, RICE def. Sara Sadadinovic, SHSU 6-0 6-3 
   Consolation – Sara Sadadinovic, SHSU vs. Ayra Salim, UTSA 2-6 7-5 6-2 

FLIGHT SIX SINGLES 
  1R – Ella Fitcher, SHSU def. Giuliana Giadina, UTSA 6-2 6-1 
   2R – Ella Fitcher, SHSU def. Mariaa Bakhtina, UTRGV 6-1 6-1 
   3R - Ella Fitcher, SHSU vs. Ciangherotti, UNT 6-1 1-6 6-2 

  1R – Cindy Ciangherotti, UNT def. Isabella Garza, SHSU  6-0 7-6 (5) 
  1R - Giadina, UTSA def. Isabellla Garza, SHSU 7-6 (3) 6-3 

FLIGHT ONE DOUBLES 
  1R –  Maguina / Ponce, RICE def. Aaliya Hohmann / Nayuma Subba, SHSU 6-4 
   Consolation – Ellie Mireles / Caroline McGinkey, SMU def. Aaliya Hohmann / Nayuma Subba, SHSU 6-0 
        Bakhtina / Makersa, UTRGV def. Aaliya Hohmann / Nayuma Subba, SHSU 6-1 

FLIGHT TWO DOUBLES 
   1R – Daniela Chica / Nitheca Selvara, RICE def. Ella Fitcher / Sara Sadadinovic, SHSU 6-0 
   Consolation – Giardina / Nagaswa, UTSA def. Ella Fitcher / Sara Sadadinovic, SHSU 6-1 
    Ella Fitcher / Sara Sadadinovic, SHSU def. Joffe / Yaiza Vazquez, UTRGV 6-1 

FLIGHT THREE DOUBLES 
   1R – Ashar, RICE / Sue Stasny, SMU def. Christine Jevicky / Adithi Krishnan, SHSU 6-4   
   2R – Ciangherotti / Petelinsek UNT def. Jevicky / Krishnan, SHSU 6-4 
   3R – Salim / Milosavljevic UTSA def. Jevicky / Krishnan, SHSU 7-6 (3)