University of North Texas Athletics
Tuesday, May 21
Orlando, FL
Noon CT
University of North Texas
vs
First Round
Kononova, Kutubidze Lose In NCAA Tournament
5/21/2019 3:19:00 PM | Women's Tennis
ORLANDO, FL – The winningest doubles team in Mean Green tennis history had its season and collegiate careers come to an end on Tuesday in the first round of the NCAA Doubles National Championships.
North Texas seniors Maria Kononova and Tamuna Kutubidze who were the first doubles team in program history to reach the NCAA Tournament, took their No. 10 nationally ranked Clemson opponents to a third-set tiebreak but lost 10-6.
The final score was 5-7, 6-3, 10-6.
Kononova and Kutubidze leave UNT with a career doubles record of 69-26 and most noteworthy own the program record for total career wins, winning percentage, single-season wins, single-season winning percentage, single-season dual match wins, longest winning streak (17) and highest national ranking (19). Along with being the first Mean Green doubles team to reach a NCAA Tournament, they became the first to win an Intercollegiate Tennis Associate Regional Championship this past October.
"I just want to say thank you to two special seniors for four amazing years," said head coach Sujay Lama. "They broke just about every record in our program's history. They will forever be remembered as two of the greatest student-athletes to ever represent the Mean Green.
"They were outstanding and exceptional ambassadors of the University of North Texas," he added.
On Tuesday, Kononova and Kutubidze jumped on the Tigers' doubles team that at one point this season held the honor of being ranked No. 1. The UNT duo overpowered, outsmart and held off a late comeback from their opponents to win the first set 7-5.
In the second set things got a little tougher for the Mean Green.
Clemson took a commanding 4-1 lead and hung on to send the match to a 10-point third-set tiebreak.
Tied 2-2 in the tiebreak, UNT narrowly missed a forehand shot that could have given them the momentum needed to move on. But instead, Clemson pushed its tiebreak lead to as many as three points. The three-point cushion was too much for UNT as they couldn't close the gap.
"These ladies put forward an unbelievable effort," Lama said. "It came down to just a point or two. I'm so very proud of both of them."
Along with their doubles success, Kononova and Kutubidze graduate from UNT first and second all-time in singles wins.
In total, Kononova has won 169 matches between singles and doubles and Kutubidze has won 158. North Texas Athletic Hall of Famer Gwen Sammel's (1979-82) 116 total wins are the next most and she is the only other North Texas women's tennis player with over 100.
North Texas seniors Maria Kononova and Tamuna Kutubidze who were the first doubles team in program history to reach the NCAA Tournament, took their No. 10 nationally ranked Clemson opponents to a third-set tiebreak but lost 10-6.
The final score was 5-7, 6-3, 10-6.
Kononova and Kutubidze leave UNT with a career doubles record of 69-26 and most noteworthy own the program record for total career wins, winning percentage, single-season wins, single-season winning percentage, single-season dual match wins, longest winning streak (17) and highest national ranking (19). Along with being the first Mean Green doubles team to reach a NCAA Tournament, they became the first to win an Intercollegiate Tennis Associate Regional Championship this past October.
"I just want to say thank you to two special seniors for four amazing years," said head coach Sujay Lama. "They broke just about every record in our program's history. They will forever be remembered as two of the greatest student-athletes to ever represent the Mean Green.
"They were outstanding and exceptional ambassadors of the University of North Texas," he added.
On Tuesday, Kononova and Kutubidze jumped on the Tigers' doubles team that at one point this season held the honor of being ranked No. 1. The UNT duo overpowered, outsmart and held off a late comeback from their opponents to win the first set 7-5.
In the second set things got a little tougher for the Mean Green.
Clemson took a commanding 4-1 lead and hung on to send the match to a 10-point third-set tiebreak.
Tied 2-2 in the tiebreak, UNT narrowly missed a forehand shot that could have given them the momentum needed to move on. But instead, Clemson pushed its tiebreak lead to as many as three points. The three-point cushion was too much for UNT as they couldn't close the gap.
"These ladies put forward an unbelievable effort," Lama said. "It came down to just a point or two. I'm so very proud of both of them."
Along with their doubles success, Kononova and Kutubidze graduate from UNT first and second all-time in singles wins.
In total, Kononova has won 169 matches between singles and doubles and Kutubidze has won 158. North Texas Athletic Hall of Famer Gwen Sammel's (1979-82) 116 total wins are the next most and she is the only other North Texas women's tennis player with over 100.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
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