RUSTON – Louisiana Tech will take on its first Conference USA opponents of the season this weekend when the Bulldogs host New Mexico State and Sam Houston.
 
MATCH INFORMATION
Match One
LA Tech vs. New Mexico State
Friday, March 21 | 11 a.m. CT
Match Two
LA Tech vs. Sam Houston
Saturday, March 22 | Noon CT
 
Location: LA Tech Tennis Complex (Ruston, La.)
Live Video: LATechSports.com/TennisStream
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/TennisStats
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (10-6, 0-0 CUSA)
LA Tech looks to snap its two-match losing skid after suffering back-to-back 4-1 losses at Tarleton State and at home to No. 67 Wichita State, its first home defeat this season. 
 
The Bulldogs are amid a three-game home stand and have seven of their last regular season nine matches slated to be played in Ruston.  Five of those will come against CUSA opponents. 
 
LA Tech is a combined 46-31 in dual singles this spring, led by Zoie Epps who owns a 14-2 record while playing primarily at the No. 2 position.  The sophomore is a three-time CUSA Athlete of the Week recipient, having dropped only four sets all season.  Ana Rodrigues has the longest active winning streak of any Bulldog, having won five straight at the top spot.
 
In dual doubles, the Bulldogs are a combined 25-17 having won the doubles point in all 10 of their victories.  Two tandems – Rodrigues/Epps and Maria Tsironi/Alice Brook – have identical 9-6 records to lead the team, having combined to earn three CUSA Doubles Team of the Week honors.  Tsironi/Brook were able to snap a three-game losing streak with a 6-4 victory over the Shockers this past week.
 
ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE (11-5, 1-0 CUSA)
After dropping its first two matches of the spring, New Mexico State has won 11 of its last 14 matches including its last three over UTEP, UC Irvine, and UC Riverside.
 
The Aggies are a combined 51-23 in dual singles, led by Montana Parkinson-Lubold who owns an 11-2 record while playing primarily at the No. 6 position.  Right behind her are a pair of Aggies in Nadia Nemeth and Anna Pinaieva who each have nine wins.  Pinaieva plays at the top spot and has won five straight.
 
In dual doubles, NM State is a combined 28-10 having won the doubles point in 12 of its 16 matches this spring.  Nemeth and Pinaieva have teamed up to go 11-4 at the No. 1 position, having won eight of their last nine matches.
 
LA Tech trails in the all-time series versus NM State, 2-4.  The Bulldogs have won the last two meetings, including a 4-3 victory over the Aggies in Las Cruces last season.  Friday will mark the first time the two teams face off against one another in Ruston.
 
ABOUT SAM HOUSTON (4-6, 0-2 CUSA)
Sam Houston is looking to snap its three-game losing streak, having suffered losses to Texas State as well as CUSA foes Jacksonville State and Kennesaw State. 
 
The Bearkats are a combined 16-22 in dual singles, anchored by Nayuma Subba who has a 4-4 mark while playing at the No. 1 position.  She has won two of her last three completed matches, winning in straight sets against LSU Shreveport and Lamar.
 
In dual doubles, Sam Houston is a combined 11-9 having won the doubles point in five of its 10 matches.  The duo of Subba and Jacqueline Schnabel lead the team with four wins from the top position.
 
The series between LA Tech and Sam Houston is tied, 12-12.  The Bulldogs and Bearkats have competed against one another in seven of the last nine seasons.  LA Tech has won the last two matchups including last season's 4-0 victory in Huntsville.
 
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