Rice University
Harvard
Rice Stumbles at 17th-Ranked Harvard
4/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 9, 2006
BOSTON, Mass. -- The Rice women won three matches on Sunday, putting up a tough fight in a 5-2 loss at 17th-ranked Harvard on Sunday afternoon in Boston, Mass.
The Owls struck first in doubles as the sophomore duo of Tiffany Lee and Christine Dao defeated the Crimson's Lyly Cao and Cindy Chu 8-4 at the three position. Harvard knotted the battle with a win at two, then Elsa O'Riain and Stephanie Schnitter held of Rice's senior pair of Blair DiSesa and Medeja Egic for an 8-6 decision at the top spot.
The Crimson carried their momentum into singles, scoring quick wins at two, three and six to claim the win. The Owls continued to fight though. DiSesa recorded a 6-3, 6-2 win against Eva Wang at the top spot to get Rice on the scoreboard. Egic followed with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory against Melissa Anderson at four. In the final match of the day, Rice freshman Alanna Rodgers lost her close battle, a 7-5, 6-4 decision in favor of Preethi Mukundan at five.
The Owls have their final regular season matches on Friday when they host Abilene Christian at 9 am and Texas-San Antonio at 3 pm at the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium. They will be the final tune-ups before Rice heads to the Conference USA championship beginning April 20 in Dallas.
Results
#17 Harvard 5, Rice 2
Doubles
1. Elsa O'Riain/Stephanie Schnitter (H) def. Blair DiSesa/Medeja Egic (R), 8-6
2. Preethi Mukundan/Laura Peterzan (H) def. Alanna Rodgers/Kimberley Patenaude (R), 8-3
3. Tiffany Lee/Christine Dao (R) def. Lyly Cao Minh/Cindy Chu (H), 8-4
Singles
1. #60 Blair DiSesa (R) def. Eva Wang (H), 6-3, 6-2
2. #115 Elsa O'Riain (H) def. Christine Dao (R), 6-2, 6-1
3. Laura Peterzan (H) def. Tiffany Lee (R), 6-1, 6-2
4. Medeja Egic (R) def. #72 Melissa Anderson (H), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
5. Preethi Mukundan (H) def. Alanna Rodgers (R), 6-5, 6-4
6. Stephanie Schnitter (H) def. Emily Braid (R), 6-0, 6-2
Order of Finish: D3, D2, D1, S2, S6, S3, S1, S4, S5
Players Mentioned
