Stephen F. Austin
University of Houston Invite
Ladyjacks Conclude Solinco Houston Open
9/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
HOUSTON, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin women’s tennis concluded play at the Solinco Houston Open at host University of Houston on Sunday.
SFA posted a combined 7-8 record over the three-day tournament at the John E. Hoff Courts, finishing 2-4 in doubles and 5-4 in singles draws. The Ladyjacks were one of eight teams to participate in the weekend tournament, as No. 23 Rice, SMU, St. Edwards, Lamar, McNeese State, and Louisiana Tech also took part. Rice was not the only team participating that was ranked, as host UH sat 34th in the nation entering the weekend.
"Overall, I am happy with the way the girls played this weekend,” head coach Roberto Aspillaga said. “We are way ahead of where we were at this time last year, and we are getting better every day. I look forward to playing our next tournament next weekend."
SFA fielded two teams in the doubles draws. Sophomores Denise Maxl and Macarena Sedano Acosta played in No. 1 doubles, while junior Valeria Terentyeva played in No. 2 doubles, teaming up with McNeese’s Hannah Brett for Friday and Saturday and Houston’s Charlotte Phillips on Sunday.
Terentyeva and Brett defeated Taly Merker and Haley Ballinger of Louisiana Tech 8-2, before falling 8-7 to Yana Erkeeva and Dasha Sharapova of SMU. Terentyeva then responded with an 8-2 win over Lamar’s Hanna Elfving and Anna Spengler, with the help of Phillips. Maxl and Sedano Acosta fell 8-3, 8-6 and 8-5, in their respective matches.
All three of the participants in doubles played in singles for the Ladyjacks, as Maxl played No. 1, Terentyeva played No. 3 and Sedano Acosta played No. 5 singles. Terentyeva and Sedano Acosta each picked up two wins, while Maxl won one.
Terentyeva, after dropping a 7-5, 6-4 decision to SMU’s Holly Verner, defeated both UH’s Angela Lorenzo (1-6, 6-0, 13-11) and St. Edwards’ Ivana Zecevic (6-2, 6-2).
Sedano Acosta alternated wins and losses, defeating LU’s Elfving 6-1, 6-1 and dropping a 6-4, 6-1 decision to UH’s Lorenzo, before closing out with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over St. Edwards’ Vanessa Camara.
Maxl had the opposite fortune of Sedano Acosta, dropping her first match 6-4, 6-1 to LA Tech’s Alexandra Starkova and beating St. Edwards’ Brooke Hughes 7-6 (5), 6-2, before falling 7-5, 4-6, 10-6 to UH’s Rocio Martin.
SFA will continue its non-competition season on September 26-27, taking part in the Lady Demon Invite at host Northwestern State.
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