HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Louisiana Tech tennis team was in a close battle with Sam Houston State on several courts, but the Lady Techsters ended up dropping the match, 5-2, on Saturday afternoon at the McAdams Tennis Center.
 
A year after not winning a singles match, LA Tech (3-4) got victories on two courts against Sam Houston (4-1).  However, the Bearkats were successful in grabbing the doubles point and pulled out three singles wins to take it.
 
"It was a great effort today," said head coach Amanda Stone.  "The doubles ended up costing us some needed momentum going into singles so we will focus on correcting that tomorrow.  We are playing good, it's just a matter of coming out with confidence from the beginning and taking control of the courts.
 
"In singles, we were in a good fight on all courts.  Sam Houston is a little better than us right now, but we have closed the gap.  We will take a few lessons away from this match and get focused on the next one."
 
SHSU picked up doubles wins on courts one and two and opened up singles play with straight-set wins at No. 1 and No. 4 to go up 3-0 in the team match.
 
LA Tech responded with two big wins on courts two and five from Ana Jover and Claudia Oravcova, respectively.  At the No. 2 spot, Jover picked up her team-leading fifth singles win with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Constandena Nicolaou.
 
And at No. 5 (playing up a spot due to an injury to Andrea Perez-Lopez), Oravcova came out on top in a marathon match to defeat Roos Gerritsen 7-5, 2-6, 1-0 (9).
 
Ilana Tetruashvili nearly gave the Lady Techsters a third singles point, but the sophomore fell in a third-set super breaker on court three.  Rikona Murakami made her first appearance in the spring, dropping a 6-2, 6-4 decision on court six.  
 
"The team is close to really breaking through," said Stone.  "This match was a great example.  When it comes to three sets on several courts to determine the match, the level of play is high.  Our team just needs to keep gaining confidence and keep believing."
 
LA Tech will turn around and play at Prairie View A&M on Sunday at 10 a.m. 
 
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