Sports
 

Super trio key to tennis success

UH led by Foley, Dimovska, Terblanche, doubles pairs undecided

By Christian Schmidt
The Daily Cougar

Women's tennis isn't the highest profile sport at UH. Rarely more than a handful of fans attend the team's matches at the John E. Hoff Varsity Tennis Courts.

But a lack of fans doesn't mean there's a lack of talent on head coach Jen Hyde's team.

In fact, she has so much talent she's still trying to figure out how to best deploy her players for the team's first matches of the semester. 

The Cougars resume play Jan. 31 against McNeese State, followed by a match-up against Lamar on Feb. 1.

"We don't know who will be playing No. 1 for us yet," Hyde said. "All three of (the top players) have a chance. It's a good problem to have."

Those top players are sophomore Miranda Foley, junior Biljana Dimovska and sophomore Yolandi Terblanche. 

The trio will form the front line for the team this season, though Hyde hasn't decided which positions each of the three will play.

Foley will again be one of the leaders for the Cougars. 

Last year as a freshman she played most of her matches at the No. 2 singles spot, compiling a 14-11 record.

Dimovska, a transfer from Breneau University who joined the Cougars in the fall, will also have a chance to make an impact in one of the top spots.

"(Dimovska) had some good wins for us in the fall," Hyde said. "We want to see more of what she can do."

Terblanche showed flashes of ability a year ago, going 7-7 in singles play before an elbow injury ended her season.

Rounding out the team are sophomores Sandra Blajer and Kami Miller, juniors Diana Martin and Hanaa Rhazi and senior Karine Urbin.

The team will start the spring season with two matches on the road before heading home for three matches, including a Conference USA dual match against Alabama-Birmingham on Feb. 6.

"We get to start out the season with a little road trip," Hyde said. "We're excited to get a chance to prove ourselves.

On the doubles side, everything is still up in the air. 

Over the next week, the Cougars will be practicing own their double pairings before the first match.

"Right now we just have so many options (for doubles pairings)," Hyde said. "It's too many options, really. We'll just have to figure it out."

Hyde said she hadn't had so many possible doubles pairings before in her coaching career. The pairings may remain fluid throughout the season depending on which teams are playing well at any given time.

From their first matches all the way through the season, the team will be preparing for the C-USA championships, which are slated for April 15-19 in Louisville, Ky.

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