Rice University Athletics
Harmath, Guzman Move on to Semis
9/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Sept. 18, 2010
MIDLAND - Rice University junior Ana Guzman and freshman Dominique Harmath both scored victories over ranked players at the Racquet Club Collegiate Invitational Saturday to advance to the semifinals of the season-opening tournament for the Owls.
Guzman defeated the tournament's No. 3 and No. 6 seeds en route to advancing to the semifinals of the singles draw. She beat Pepperdine's Adrianna Colffer 6-3, 2-6, (10) then knocked off Lamar's Mariaryeni Gutierrez 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 in the quarterfinals. Guzman will take on Tulsa's Jo-Anne Karaitiana Sunday in one semifinal.
Harmath remained undefeated as a collegian with two more victories including a 3-6-, 6-3, 6-4 win over No. 5 seed Anamika Bhargava in the quarterfinals. She also grabbed a 6-2, 6-3 win over Texas A&M's Janelle Cuthbertson in the Round of 16. Harmath next faces Abilene Christian's Julia Mongin.
A pair of wins Sunday by Guzman and Harmath would mean an all-Rice women's singles final.
"I was proud of the fight our players showed today," said Rice head coach Elizabeth Schmidt. "Ana and Dominique stepped it up in their third sets and played to win. We had some physical matches today and it was great to see our players gut out their matches and rely on all the training hours they have put in."
Rice senior Jessica Jackson put a first-round loss on Friday behind her and has advanced to the semifinals of the consolation draw.
"Jess has rebounded very well after a tough first-round loss and I happy she has been able to battle through the backdraw and pick up some quality wins," Schmidt said.
In addition to the play in Midland, Rice is also participating in the 2010 Islanders Open hosted by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Play was shorted by rain on Saturday and Rice netters played in just two matches.
Rice sophomore Mecklin Ragan lost to Texas-Pan American's Wanda Beguelin 6-4, 6-1. Freshman Leah Fried lost to A&M-Corpus Christi's Stefanie Nicolae 0-6, 6-4, (10-7).
