Rice University
Montana State
Rice Beats Montana State, Gonzaga
3/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 15, 2006
SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The Rice men were dominant in a pair of matches on Thursday, beating Montana State 5-2 and blasting Gonzaga 7-0 at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, Calif.
The day began with the Owls winning the doubles point against Montana State. Seniors Robert Searle and Tony Haerle dropped the Bobcats' Marek Gebicki and Kyle McDonald 8-3 at the top spot, while the German tandem of sophomore Ralph Knupfer and freshman Christoph Müller beat Justin Hauck and Jake Berriochoa 8-4 at number three.
Rice then won four of six in singles to secure the team victory. Junior Jason Mok was solid in his 6-2, 6-0 win against Hauck at number six, while Haerle and Müller also scored straight-set victories. Searle was up a set at the top spot when his opponent defaulted.
The Owls were completely dominant against Gonzaga in the afternoon match. After winning all three to take the doubles point, including a commanding 8-0 victory from Knupfer and Müller at the three, Rice swept all six singles matches. Singles play was highlighted by Müller's 6-0, 6-3 win against Copper Fratt at number four and Mok's 6-0, 6-2 victory over Charles Adams at six. Senior Rodrigo Gabriel also rebounded from a tough three-set loss earlier in the day to beat Robert Penney 6-4, 6-1 at the five spot.
The wins improve Rice's record to 8-5 on the year. The Owls wrap up their stay in southern California on Saturday when they face off with 35th-ranked San Diego.
Results
No. 54 Rice 5, Montana State 2
Doubles
1. Searle/Haerle (RU) def. Gebicki/McDonald (MSU), 8-3
2. Ueltschi/Chigateri (MSU) def. Gabriel/Mok (RU), 9-8
3. Müller/Knupfer (RU) def. Hauck/Berriochoa (MSU), 8-4
Singles
1. No. 59 Robert Searle (RU) def. Federico Ueltschi (MSU), 6-2, def. (inj.)
2. Marek Gebicki (MSU) def. Ralph Knupfer (RU), 6-4, 5-7, 7-6
3. Tony Haerle (RU) def. Kyle McDonald (MSU), 6-2, 6-2
4. Christoph Müller (RU) def. Tejeshwara Chigateri (MSU), 7-5, 6-3
5. Jakob Dybala (MSU) def. Rodrigo Gabriel (RU), 2-6, 7-6, 7-6
6. Jason Mok (RU) def. Justin Hauck (MSU), 6-0, 6-2
No. 54 Rice 7, Gonzaga 0
Doubles
1. Searle/Haerle (RU) def. Adams/Arthur (GU), 8-4
2. Gabriel/Mok (RU) def. Womack/Pineda (GU), 8-3
3. Müller/Knupfer (RU) def. Penny/Fratt (GU), 8-0
Singles
1. No. 59 Robert Searle (RU) def. Reid Arthur (GU), 6-3, 6-1
2. Ralph Knupfer (RU) def. Brett Womack (GU), 6-2, 6-1
3. Tony Haerle (RU) def. Marco Pineda (GU), 6-3, 6-1
4. Christoph Müller (RU) def. Cooper Fratt (GU), 6-0, 6-3
5. Rodrigo Gabriel (RU) def. Robert Penney (GU), 6-4, 6-1
6. Jason Mok (RU) def. Charles Adams (GU), 6-0, 6-2
Players Mentioned
