March 11, 2003

HUNTSVILLE, Texas...The University of Texas at Arlington's women's tennis team entered its Southland Conference opener against Sam Houston State without enough players to field an entire lineup, but still left town with a victory, defeating the Bearkats 5-2 Monday in Huntsville.

The Mavericks, who have been victimized by injuries since the fall, were again forced to forfeit matches at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles. UTA still won the doubles point, as top team Annemarie Lenze and Anete Rozkalne teamed to beat Tara Shelander and Erika Rudich 8-5 and Ella Goldshuv and Jitka Vetrovcova defeated Fati Benboubker and Mounia Hassib 8-3.

The Mavericks' only loss on the court came in the third singles position, where Benboubker defeated Goldshuv 6-4, 7-5. The most competitive match of the day came on the No. 2 singles court, where Rozkalne was forced to go to a pro set to defeat Hassib 6-4, 3-6, 10-7.

UTA won the remaining singles matches in straight sets. Lenze handed Shelander a 6-3, 6-2 defeat in the top position; Vetrovcova defeated Rudich 6-3, 6-0 in the fourth slot; and Gretel Hach beat Jennifer Pechal 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5 singles.

Doubles: #1 Annemarie Lenze / Anete Rozkalne (UTA) def. Erika Rudich / Tara Shelander (SHSU) 8-5; #2 Ella Goldshuv / Jitka Vetrovcova (UTA) def. Fati Benboubker / Mounia Hassib (SHSU) 8-3; #3 Sheenen Ludwig / Jennifer Pechal (SHSU) win by default

Singles: #1 Lenze (UTA) def. Shelander (SHSU) 6-3 6-2; #2 Rozkalne (UTA) def. Hassib (SHSU) 6-4 3-6 1-0 (10-7); #3 Benboubker (SHSU) def. Goldshuv (UTA) 6-4 7-5; #4 Vetrovcova (UTA) def. Rudich (SHSU) 6-3 6-0; #5 Gretel Hach (UTA) def. Pechal (SHSU) 6-1 6-0; #6 Ludwig (SHSU) wins by default

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