Men's Tennis: Owls Top Virginia Tech, 5-2
3/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
At number one doubles, Richard Barker, whose twin brother and usual doubles partner William had to be scratched from the lineup due to illness, teamed up with Cody Jackson to defeat Virginia Tech's Davor Dupljak and Francis Huot, 8-3. However, Matthias Mathaes and Alexis Pourchet dropped an 8-5 decision to Andreas Laulund and Andrew Vu at number two, while Fabien Giraud and Vuk Rajevac lost to Jay Bruner and Michael Kurz to give the Hokies the early advantage.
The Owls stormed back in singles, though, with Richard Barker defeating Dupljak, 7-5, 6-1, at the number one position, and Mathaes downed Huot, 7-5, 6-3, at number two. Giraud fought through two tiebreakers to outlast Kurz, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, at number three, and Pourchet cruised past Bruner, 6-1, 6-3, at number four. Jackson took the Owls' only singles loss, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, to Laulund at number five. Rajevac rebounded after dropping the first set and fighting through a tiebreaker in the second to finish off Saber Kadiri, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, at number six.
Rice remains undefeated at 10-0 and will return to action against the University of San Diego Thursday at 3 p.m. PST. The Owls return home to host North Carolina Monday at 1:30 p.m. at Jake Hess Tennis Stadium.
Rice 5, Virginia Tech 2
Singles
1. Richard Barker (RU) def. Davor Dapljak (VT) 7-5, 6-1
2. Matthias Mathaes (RU) def. Francis Huot (VT) 7-5, 6-3
3. Fabien Giraud (RU) def. Michael Kurz (VT) 7-6, 4-6, 7-6
4. Alexis Pourchet (RU) def. Jay Bruner (VT) 6-1, 6-3
5. Andreas Laulund (VT) def. Cody Jackson (RU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
6. Vuk Rajevac (RU) def. Saber Kadiri (VT) 4-6, 7-6, 6-2
Doubles
1. Barker/Jackson (RU) def. Dupljak/Huot (VT) 8-3
2. Laulund/Andrew Vu (VT) def. Mathaes/Pourchet (RU) 8-5
3. Bruner/Kurz (VT) def. Giraud/Rajevac (RU) 8-2