Rice University
Texas-Pan American
Rice Blanks UTPA 7-0
3/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 30, 2007
HOUSTON -- Rice posted a commanding win on Friday afternoon, blanking Texas-Pan American 7-0 in dual match action at the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium.
The Owls got on top early, taking the doubles point to begin play. Dominique Karas and Rebecca Lin blasted Luisa Cantu and Stephanie Willerding 8-2. Rice's Tiffany Lee and Julie Chao then held off a late surge from Julia Cirne-Lima and Giana Oliveira to win 8-6.
At No. 4 singles, Karas soon found herself down 4-1, in the first, but the Owl stormed back to defeat the Lady Broncs' Silke Buksik 6-4, 6-1 to move Rice ahead 2-0. That win was immediately followed by Lee's 6-1, 6-1 victory against Cirne-Lima at No. 3 singles. Christine Dao clinched the team victory at No. 2, beating Willerding 6-4, 6-2.
Rice freshmen Rebecca Lin and Julie Chao both posted straight set victories, while sophomore Emily Braid posted the biggest rally of the day. After splitting the first two sets, Braid trailed 8-2 in the third-set, super tie-break against Cantu. The Owl then fired off eight consecutive points to take the match 6-2, 4-6, 10-8.
The Owls return to action on Saturday, traveling to College Station to face No. 14 Texas A&M at 1:30 pm.
Results
Rice 7, Texas-Pan American 0
Doubles
1. Chao/Lee (RICE) def. Cirne-Lima/Oliveira (UTPA) 8-6
2. Karas/Lin (RICE) def. Cantu/Willerding (UTPA) 8-2
3. Bedeau/Buksik (UTPA) def. Dao/ Kimberley Patenaude (RICE) 8-2
Singles
1. Julie Chao (RICE) def. Giana Oliveira (UTPA) 7-5, 6-3
2. Christine Dao (RICE) def. Stephanie Willerding (UTPA) 6-4, 6-2
3. Tiffany Lee (RICE) def. Julia Cirne-Lima (UTPA) 6-1, 6-1
4. Dominique Karas (RICE) def. Silke Buksik (UTPA) 6-4, 6-1
5. Rebecca Lin (RICE) def. Megan Bedeau (UTPA) 6-3, 6-2
6. Emily Braid (RICE) def. Luisa Cantu (UTPA) 6-2, 4-6, 10-8
Order of Finish: D3, D2, D1, S4, S3, S2, S5, S6, S1
Players Mentioned
