Rice University
Southern Miss
Rice Beats USM, Advance To C-USA Semifinals
4/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 21, 2006
TULSA, Okla. -- Top-seeded Rice was dominant on Friday, blasting Southern Miss 4-0 in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Men's Tennis Championship in Tulsa, Okla.
The Owls jumped on top quickly with a pair of doubles wins to claim the first point of the match. At number two, junior Ben Harknett and freshman Christoph Müller blanked the Golden Eagles' tandem of Tommy Maestri and Andrew Poole 8-0. Playing at the top spot, senior Tony Haerle and sophomore Filip Zivojinovic beat Domagoj Anic and Reid Bourgeois 8-3.
Senior Rodrigo Gabriel put Rice up 2-0 after defeating Poole 6-2, 6-2 at number-six singles. Zivojinovic then added to the lead, dropping Juan Garzon 6-2, 6-1 at three singles. The Owls clinched the victory when junior Jason Mok scored a 6-3, 6-4 win against Dylan Mezey at number five. Once the team winner was determined, the other three singles matches were suspended.
"We played really well," noted head coach Ron Smarr. "Obviously they gave us a pretty good battle, and with us not playing with our one and three guys it makes a difference against anybody. They competed hard, our hats off to Southern Mississippi."
The win improves 28th-ranked Rice's record to 17-6 on the year. The Owls next face UAB, a 4-2 winner against UCF, in Saturday's noon semifinal match.
Results
No. 28 Rice 4, Southern Miss 0
Doubles
1. Haerle/Zivojinovic (RU) def. Anic/Bourgeois (USM), 8-3
2. Harknett/Müller (RU) def. Tommy Maestri/Poole (USM), 8-0
3. Gabriel/Mok (RU) vs. Lux/Mezey (USM), DNF
Singles
1. No. 122 Ben Harknett (RU) vs. Marc Lux (USM), DNF
2. Tony Haerle (RU) vs. Domagoj Anic (USM), DNF
3. Filip Zivojinovic (RU) def. Juan Garzon (USM), 6-2, 6-1
4. Christoph Müller (RU) vs. Reid Bourgeois (USM), DNF
* 5. Jason Mok (RU) def. Dylan Mezey (USM), 6-3, 6-4
6. Rodrigo Gabriel (RU) def. Andrew Poole (USM), 6-2, 6-2
Players Mentioned
