University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Mark Woods
One Final Ride
5/20/2019 12:45:00 PM | Women's Tennis
ORLANDO, FL – It's been four years in the making and this week at the NCAA Women's Tennis Doubles Championships, it all has been built up to this.
One final ride.
Five wins and a national championship.
What began for North Texas seniors Maria Kononova (Ufa, Russia) and Tamuna Kutubidze (Tbilisi Georgia) in 2015 as an innocently confusing situation where they didn't totally understand college tennis in the United States, slowly formed into the winningest team in Mean Green history and one of the most consistent in the nation.
On Tuesday at a time to be determined, the Mean Green duo who have accumulated 69 doubles wins and a combined 151 singles wins will play one last time together in green and white with all-American and a national championship on the line.
But with a mindset of taking it one match at a time, Kononova and Kutubidze, who are the first UNT team to reach the doubles championship, will face in the first round a Clemson team that is ranked No. 10 nationally.
"It's a great opportunity to finish our college career playing together in the biggest tournament in college tennis," Kononova said. "We believe we can do well and we have a couple more goals to accomplish."
Kononova and Kutubidze's senior season has already been filled with achieving goals and setting program records.
None so far more important than their Intercollegiate Tennis Association Texas Regional Doubles Championship, which they won in October.
After falling in the semifinal round in their freshman, sophomore and junior seasons, Kononova and Kutubidze finally conquered the podium and took home the Regional crown, becoming the first to do so in UNT history and also increasing their chances of earning a bid to the Spring National Doubles Championship.
What the Texas Regional championship directly earned them was an automatic bid into the Fall National Doubles Championship in November. A good test to see where they'd stack up come the spring.
Kononova and Kutubdize once again set a program record by winning their first round match in the 32-team fall national tournament and furthering proving that they deserved a spot in the spring national tournament.
"It has been an amazing journey," Kutubidze said. "We've accomplished a lot together and have earned a spot in this tournament with the best in the nation."
After another dominating spring where they cruised through Conference USA, Kononova and Kutubidze reached as high as No. 19 in the nation – another program record. When the season was all over, the two were ranked the highest in the league, which earned them an automatic bid into the tournament.
"I'm excited to play one last time with Maria and give our best," Kutubidze said. "We've accomplished a lot together so we believe this tournament will be a memorable finish for us."
Memorable is exactly what the seniors collegiate career has been.
Regardless of outcomes and program records, Kononova and Kutubidze have gone through every rift and valley four years in college can bring. They've navigated unsure waters and stuck together, side-by-side.
And on Tuesday they begin their final voyage with a national championship on the mind.
One final ride.
Five wins and a national championship.
What began for North Texas seniors Maria Kononova (Ufa, Russia) and Tamuna Kutubidze (Tbilisi Georgia) in 2015 as an innocently confusing situation where they didn't totally understand college tennis in the United States, slowly formed into the winningest team in Mean Green history and one of the most consistent in the nation.
On Tuesday at a time to be determined, the Mean Green duo who have accumulated 69 doubles wins and a combined 151 singles wins will play one last time together in green and white with all-American and a national championship on the line.
But with a mindset of taking it one match at a time, Kononova and Kutubidze, who are the first UNT team to reach the doubles championship, will face in the first round a Clemson team that is ranked No. 10 nationally.
"It's a great opportunity to finish our college career playing together in the biggest tournament in college tennis," Kononova said. "We believe we can do well and we have a couple more goals to accomplish."
Kononova and Kutubidze's senior season has already been filled with achieving goals and setting program records.
None so far more important than their Intercollegiate Tennis Association Texas Regional Doubles Championship, which they won in October.
After falling in the semifinal round in their freshman, sophomore and junior seasons, Kononova and Kutubidze finally conquered the podium and took home the Regional crown, becoming the first to do so in UNT history and also increasing their chances of earning a bid to the Spring National Doubles Championship.
What the Texas Regional championship directly earned them was an automatic bid into the Fall National Doubles Championship in November. A good test to see where they'd stack up come the spring.
Kononova and Kutubdize once again set a program record by winning their first round match in the 32-team fall national tournament and furthering proving that they deserved a spot in the spring national tournament.
"It has been an amazing journey," Kutubidze said. "We've accomplished a lot together and have earned a spot in this tournament with the best in the nation."
After another dominating spring where they cruised through Conference USA, Kononova and Kutubidze reached as high as No. 19 in the nation – another program record. When the season was all over, the two were ranked the highest in the league, which earned them an automatic bid into the tournament.
"I'm excited to play one last time with Maria and give our best," Kutubidze said. "We've accomplished a lot together so we believe this tournament will be a memorable finish for us."
Memorable is exactly what the seniors collegiate career has been.
Regardless of outcomes and program records, Kononova and Kutubidze have gone through every rift and valley four years in college can bring. They've navigated unsure waters and stuck together, side-by-side.
And on Tuesday they begin their final voyage with a national championship on the mind.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Friday, May 15
Monday, May 11
Saturday, April 18
Wednesday, April 15