NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans women's tennis team dropped their first dual match of the season, falling to North Texas 7-0 at the University Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon.
UNO, which was playing its first match since the 2004-05 season after being placed on hiatus in wake of hurricane Katrina, dropped to 0-1 while NT won their first dual match of the season, in what was the opener for both teams.
The No. 1 singles' match between
Kir Kemp and regionally-ranked Madura Ranganathan went three sets with the 16th ranked Rangnathan prevailing 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (13).
Ceara Howey also forced a third set after falling in the first contested set. The freshman from England fell to Catalina Cruz 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (9) in the No. 4 singles match.
The highlight of the doubles' competition came when
Kozue Matsumoto and
Cassandra Escobar forced the eighth-ranked team in the region to a tiebreaker, falling 9-8 (3) to Ranganathan and Irina Paraschiv in the No. 1 doubles spot.
UNO will look to rebound against Tulane on Thursday at 2 p.m. Like the Privateers, the Green Wave tennis program was also reinstated this year following a short hiatus in wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Singles competition
1. Madura Ranganathan (NT) def.
Kir Kemp (UNO) 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (13)
2. Irina Paraschiv (NT) def.
Cassandra Escobar (UNO) 6-1, 6-3
3. Paula Dinuta (NT) def.
Kozue Matsumoto (UNO) 6-3, 6-2
4. Catalina Cruz (NT) def.
Ceara Howey (UNO) 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (9)
5. Amy Joubert (NT) def.
Sofija Karalic (UNO) 6-0, 1-6, 6-1
6. Narine Kazarova (NT) def.
Amber Garza (UNO) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Madura Ranganathan/Irina Paraschiv (NT) def.
Kozue Matsumoto/
Cassandra Escobar (UNO) 9-8 (3)
2. Amy Joubert/Rachel Wilhelm (NT) def.
Ceara Howey/
Amber Garza (UNO) 8-3
3. Narine Kazarova/Catalina Cruz (NT) def.
Kir Kemp/
Sofija Karalic (UNO) 8-3
