Despite opening the weekend with a 7-0 loss to Texas A&M, the tennis team defeated the Unversity of Texas-Pan American 4-3 Saturday.Although the scores do not reflect it, coach Michael Hunt said the Bearkats fought hard against Texas A&M’s top 20 level team.”I was very proud of how well we played,” he said. “The scores don’t necessarily reflect how well we played.”The team used the A&M loss as a learning experience, according to Hunt.”Our goal for the day was to compete hard against A&M and hope that the intensity would carry over into the Pan Am match. For the most part it did,” Hunt said. “We got the win and we are happy with that.”Mounia Hassib, the team’s newest recruit, made her debut against the Aggies’ number one player Mjaorie Terburgh and dropped the match 6-2, 6-0.However, Hassib fought hard against UTPA’s number one player Celine Merlini. Hassib took the first game 2-6, but Merlini squeeked out a 6-3 and 7-5 win to claim the match.”(Merlini) and Mounia put on quite a show for everyone before Pan Am pulled it out in the end.”Ivette Andrade also put on a show during the Pan Am match against its number two player, Elisabet Mateos.Andrade took the first game 6-0, but she had to fight for the second game. Down by six points in the second set tie breaker, Andrade made a huge come back for the win.”She fought off seven set points to win,” Hunt said. “She is just the definition of tough and I am proud that she represents Sam Houston Tennis.”Also posting wins against UTPA were Diala Ammar over Eve Nickleson 6-2, 6-0 and Veronica Castillo over Jessica Brown 6-3, 6-1.In doubles play, Andrade and Ammar defeated Kathryn Walsen and Ana Pena 8-1 and Erika Rudich and Jayme Holmstrom defeated Eve Nickelson and Jessica Brown 8-2.The tennis team’s next action comes against Lousiana-Tech Friday in Huntsville at 2 p.m.
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