Men's Tennis: Owls Receive NCAA Bid

5/3/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

May 3, 2001

HOUSTON - The 35th-ranked Owls received an at-large bid to play in the 2001 NCAA Men's Tennis Championships and face 23rd-ranked Auburn on May 12 in Durham, N.C.

Duke University, seeded sixth in the 64-team tournament and ranked fifth nationally, will serve as host for the four-team regional. The Blue Devils face unranked Hampton in the first round. The winners of the first round matches face off on May 13 for the right to go to the 16-team national tournament in Athens, Ga., which begins May 19.

The 21-8 Rice men are led by WAC freshman of the year Richard Barker who recorded a 15-8 ledger at number one singles this season. Barker was also named to the all-WAC first team for singles and the second team for doubles with partner William Barker. Also leading the way for the Owls is sophomore Mattthias Mathaes, a two-time all-WAC second team honoree.

The bid is the first for Rice since 1994, when they hosted the NCAA Region VI tournament.