HOUSTON – After falling behind by two points, Louisiana Tech reeled off four straight singles wins to defeat Houston, 4-2, on a windy Monday afternoon at the Barbara Wallace Winston Tennis Facility.
 
Houston (1-3) claimed the doubles point with victories on courts one and three and then followed that up with a straight-set win at the No. 5 position in singles to take a 2-0 lead.
 
It was all LA Tech (6-3) from there though.  Tiffani Nash got the Bulldogs on the scoreboard first with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Sonya Kovalenko at the No. 4 position.
 
Then it was steady play of Olga Bienzobas tying things up at 2-2 with her sixth straight win, a 7-5, 6-4 victory against Laura Slisane at the No. 1 spot.  Not long after that, her doubles partner Alexia Romero also claimed her sixth straight singles win with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Nina Skoric on court six.
 
The clincher then came at the No. 2 spot where Ana Rodrigues outdueled Maria Dzemeshkevich.  After pulling out the first set in a tiebreak, 7-6 (5), the junior got up 3-0 before Dzemeshkevich fought back with four straight games.  Rodrigues countered though with three straight games of her own, taking the second set, 6-4.
 
The battle on court three was stopped between Valentina Vasquez and Sophie Schouten.  Vasquez had just won the second set, 6-3, after dropping the first set in a tiebreaker.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amy Sargeant
 
"Today was a hard-earned win.  We faced adversity after dropping the doubles point against a ready-to-go Houston team.  The objective today was to step up and compete with a championship mindset.  The way we responded in singles is a testament to the team's hard work and trust in the process.  Success comes in a variety of ways, and this team is learning to love the battle and compete on their times.  I am proud of where we are as a team and look forward to the next opportunity to grow."
 
NOTABLES

• LA Tech claimed its first ever victory over a Power 5 opponent.  It was also the first ever win over Houston, having lost all 10 meetings prior.
• The Bulldogs collected its first true road win of the season (had lost the previous three to Tulsa, LSU, and Rice).
• Olga Bienzobas improved to 8-1 in dual singles this season, tying her career-long winning streak at six matches. The senior is now 16-4 overall and 16-2 over her last 18 dual matches going back to last season.
• Alexia Romero improved to 7-1 in dual singles this season, tying her career-long winning streak at six matches.  She is now 18-4 all-time playing at the No. 6 spot.
• Alexia Romero claimed her 45th career dual singles victory, tied for the eighth most in program history.
• Ana Rodrigues provided the clinching point for the first time this season, improving to 4-3 in dual singles.
• Tiffani Nash improved to 5-3 in dual singles.  It was her 15th win all-time at the No. 4 position.

UP NEXT
LA Tech returns home on Friday, Feb. 16 to host Tarleton State.  First serve is set for Noon CT at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
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