Tennis departures (Update: and gains)

Not really surprising with Steinbock’s departure, but we lose our top two returnees to next year’s team including nationally ranked Dimitrova. Only have 3 returning right now so the new coach will have to find enough to fill out the roster.

https://twitter.com/Parsa_Nemati/status/1023249818561339393
https://twitter.com/Parsa_Nemati/status/1023250353540620289

Those are two big losses. Hopefully Coach Besovic has a few tricks up her sleeve or it will be a very long year.

Roster is updated…only one returnee (Nicolaou), but there’s some interesting newcomers:

STEPHANIE BELOVUKOVIC - Redshirt Freshman: Ranked among the top-500 international juniors…Qualified for multiple 15K tournaments…Finished third at the Australia Junior Nationals before moving to Europe…While living in Nice, France, ranked 26 in the French junior rankings…Won the Bruce Cup as a young junior, moving her to NO. 90 in the world in the under-14 rankings.

PHONEXAY CHITDARA - Junior: Competed for two seasons under Houston’s current Head Coach Helena Besovic at McNeese State…Compiled a 17-3 record in dual play including a 9-1 mark in Southland Conference action during her second season on campus…Went 7-9 as a freshman at McNeese, playing primarily from the No. 4 and No. 5 positions.

SOPHIE GERITS - Freshman: Has extensive experience on the Junior and Pro circuit in Europe

MIMI KENDALL-WOSELEY - Junior: Kendall-Woseley went 9-3 (0-0 MAC) in singles and 7-5 (0-0 MAC) in doubles this season at Toledo. Playing mostly in the No. 2 singles spot where she went 7-2, Kendall-Woseley won six matches in two sets and was undefeated in February. She also earned MAC Singles Player of the Week on Feb. 21.

NDINDI NDUNDA - Sophomore: Joined Fresno State for the spring season…appeared in 19 dual matches…posted a 7-11 record overall in singles, including going 6-9 in dual play at the No. 5 and 6 positions…went 5-6 in doubles matches, playing matches at the No. 1, 2 and 3 positions.

ELENA TAIRYAN - Redshirt Freshman: Rated inside the top-100 juniors players in Russia…Finished second in the Moscow Championships in doubles in 2017.


So no seniors, but I think this team can be pretty good. If nothing else, lot of experience will return for Year 2.

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UH needs to continue to keep making improvements to the tennis facility. If we want to get the good athletes, then we are going to have to compete against TCU, Rice, SMU, and Baylor who have facilities still way ahead of ours.

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It looks like we’ve got a complete turnover going into the spring as Nicolaou is no longer listed on the roster.

I know UH just upgrades the courts, but until UH makes some more big upgrades to the tennis facility, I just don’t see us being able to land top recruits. UH needs to build three to four indoor tennis courts in the grassy knoll. Then please get rid of the worn down courts that are up against the competition courts. They can build new tennis courts over by the Rec Center for students. With the student courts gone, the spectator seating can then be expanded all the way down the competition courts. Currently, if you go to tennis matches there are obstructed views of the far courts during matches. Rice, Tulsa, SMU, Baylor and all these other programs will continue to beat us in recruiting until UH makes these upgrades.

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