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Coogs hit stride on Spring Break

UH recovers form and wins three in a row

By Barrett Goldsmith
The Daily Cougar

The Cougars slipped and stumbled, but they steadied themselves just when they looked ready to fall.

After opening the spring season with a 4-1 record, the UH tennis team went into a tailspin, losing five consecutive matches. The Cougars didn't play poorly -- they contended in nearly every match -- but they failed to take advantage of opportunities.

"We knew we could play a lot better than what we were playing," head coach Jen Hyde said. "We were staying in matches with some of the best teams in the country, but we just weren't doing the things we needed to do."

But the Cougars steadied themselves. Just as most students were settling into a week-long break from classes, the Cougars got down to business.

Houston blanked No. 75 Utah 5-0 on March 15. The following day, the Cougars defeated No. 73 Central Florida 5-2. Finally, the Cougars improved their C-USA record to 2-0 with a 6-1 win over Louisville on Thursday.

"This couldn't have come at a better time," Hyde said. "One thing you don't want to do is to peak early. We're peaking right when we need to."

Sophomore Miranda Foley was nearly invincible in the No. 1 singles spot, winning all three of her matches in two sets. Foley beat Utah's Sheri Esrock 6-3, 6-3, then took out UCF's Julie Pecastaing 7-6, 6-4 and finished off Louisville's Michele Spiess 6-1, 6-3.

Fellow sophomore Miranda Foley was equally dominant this week, downing Jenessa Jackson 6-3, 6-0 in Utah, UCF's Ola Luczak 7-6, 6-1 and Louisville's Paige Beer 6-1, 6-2.

But Hyde is in no mood to reflect on UH's recent success.

"You can't afford to focus on anything other than right now," she said. "You can't look to far ahead and you can't look back. You have to go head-on."

Houston's difficult schedule won't get any easier. The Cougars will face crosstown rival Rice Friday at 3 p.m. and will move on to host C-USA foe Texas Christian at noon Sunday.

"I think we're capable of big things," Hyde said. "It doesn't matter what you look like on paper. You have to earn your right to play at the top."

And Hyde said the success of other women's teams at UH has helped her team take advantage of Cougar pride.

"The energy is contagious," she said. "We absolutely want to ride that wave."

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