The University of Utah women’s tennis team opened Big 12 conference play with a close 4-3 loss to the University of Houston on Thursday in Houston. The Utes, ranked No. 35 nationally, now hold a 6-4 record for the season after falling to the No. 47 Cougars.
Houston secured the doubles point by winning matches on courts one and three. The match on court two, featuring Utah’s Emmie Moore and Sara Akid against Iva Sepa and Valeriia Krokhotina, was left unfinished with Utah leading 5-4.
In singles competition, Houston quickly won matches on courts five and six to take a 3-0 lead overall. Utah responded with victories at the top two positions. At No. 1 singles, Emma Kamper defeated Elizaveta Morozova 6-2, 6-4. On court three, Sara Akid rallied for a three-set win over Iva Sepa, finishing 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Utah’s Kaila Barksdale tied the match at three apiece after coming from behind to defeat Valeriia Krokhotina in three sets at No. 4 singles.
The deciding match took place on court two between Utah’s Emmie Moore and Houston’s Chems Doha Zeghlouli. Zeghlouli clinched the victory for Houston by overcoming Moore in three sets: 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4.
Utah will continue its conference schedule this week with an away match against UCF in Orlando on February 28 before returning home to face BYU at the George S. Eccles Tennis Center on March 7.
Fans can follow updates about the team through their social media accounts (Twitter: @UteWomensTennis | Instagram: @UtahWomensTennis | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwomenstennis).
