No. 35 Utes Narrowly Fall 4-3 to No. 47 Cougars to Open Big 12 Play

Thursday, February 26

Houston, TX

Noon (MT)

University of Utah

Houston

No. 35 Utes Narrowly Fall 4-3 to No. 47 Cougars to Open Big 12 Play

2/26/2026 4:14 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Takota Lee

HOUSTON— The University of Utah women's tennis team took on the No. 47 Houston Cougars today in their Big 12 conference opener. The Utes lost 4-3 to the Cougars in a nail-biter fashion. The Utes are now 6-4 on the season.

DOUBLES
In doubles action, the Cougars took the match on courts No. 1 and No. 3 to clinch the doubles point. The match on court No. 2 between Utah's Emmie Moore and Sara Akid and Iva Sepa and Valeriia Krokhotina was left unfinished with the Utes up, 5-4.

SINGLES
In singles play, the Cougars started off hot with two quick wins on courts No. 5 and No. 6, extending the overall match lead to 3-0. The Utes bounced back with two wins of their own on courts No. 1 and No. 3. At the No. 1 spot, Utah's No. 81 Emma Kamper defeated Houston's Elizaveta Morozova 6-2, 6-4 and at the No. 3 spot, Utah's Akid claimed a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory against Houston's Sepa.

At the No. 4 spot, Utah's Kaila Barksdale tied the overall match 3-3 with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Houston's Krokhotina.

All eyes were on the final match of the day on court No. 2 between Utah's Emmie Moore and Houston Chems Doha Zeghlouli. Zeghlouli claimed a 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 victory over Moore after dropping the first set and clinched the overall match for the Cougars.

UP NEXT
The Utes will continue with conference play this week facing the UCF Knights on Feb. 28 in Orlando, Fla. before facing in-state rival BYU on Mar. 7 in the George S. Eccles Tennis Center.

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#47 Houston 4, #35 Utah 3
Singles competition
1. #81 Emma Kamper (UU) def. Elizaveta Morozova (HOU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Chems Doha Zeghlouli (HOU) def. Emmie Moore (UU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
3. Sara Akid (UU) def. Iva Sepa (HOU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Kaila Barksdale (UU) def. Valeriia Krokhotina (HOU) 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
5. Petja Drame (HOU) def. Emma Valletta (UU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Sophie Schouten (HOU) def. Hayley Roberts (UU) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. #82 Chems Doha Zeghlouli/Sophie Schouten (HOU) def. Emma Kamper/Emma Valletta (UU) 6-2
2. Iva Sepa/Valeriia Krokhotina (HOU) vs. Sara Akid/Emmie Moore (UU) 4-5, unfinished
3. #87 Petja Drame/Elizaveta Morozova (HOU) def. Dylan Lolofie/Andjelija Markovic (UU) 6-0

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (5,6,1,3,4,2)