Rice University
McNeese State
Owls Move Indoors, Blank McNeese
2/4/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 4, 2012
The Rice women's tennis team weathered a change of venue thanks to a stormy Saturday morning before posting their fourth-consecutive shutout to open the season, downing McNeese State 7-0 at the Galleria Tennis & Athletic Club.
"It was great to see our team come out quickly in doubles and stay focused the entire time." Rice head coach Elizabeth Schmidt said.
Sophomore Leah Fried made her 2012 dual debut and responded immediately, teaming with Natalie Beazant to post the Owls first win in doubles. She then closed out the match with a win at #6 singles after surviving a first-set tiebreaker.
"Leah did a nice job stepping into doubles with little notice and we were happy for her that she was able to battle back in singles to win that 1st set tiebreaker and then take over in the 2nd," Schmidt noted.
Freshman Stephanie Nguyen ran her record to 4-0, bouncing back from a loss in the second set to defeat McNeese's Diana Pirciu (MCN) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
After four shutout wins, the Owls will face their first ranked team of the 2012 campaign when they open a stretch of six consecutive road matches when travel to Baton Rouge on Tuesday to face #65 LSU. They will not be back on the Jake Hess Stadium Court until February 26 when they host Oklahoma at 11 a.m.
"We have a quick turn-around now as we prepare to play at LSU on Tuesday," Schmidt said. "We always have a battle with them and we are looking forward to the challenge."
Tennis Match Results
McNeese State vs Rice
2/4/2012 at Houston, TX
(Galleria Tennis & Athletic Club)
#69 Rice 7, McNeese State 0
Singles competition
1. Natalie Beazant (RICE) def. Tea Tvrtkovic (MCN) 6-1, 6-2
2. Ana Guzman (RICE) def. Lara Pujol (MCN) 6-4, 6-0
3. Katie Gater (RICE) def. Anastasia Surkova (MCN) 6-3, 6-0
4. Kimberly Anicete (RICE) def. Andreea Nenu (MCN) 6-0, 6-0
5. Stephanie Nguyen (RICE) def. Diana Pirciu (MCN) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
6. Leah Fried (RICE) def. Marcella Castaldi (MCN) 7-6 (1), 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Ana Guzman/Katie Gater (RICE) def. Tea Tvrtkovic/Anastasia Surkova (MCN) 8-1
2. Natalie Beazant/Leah Fried (RICE) def. Marcella Castaldi/Lara Pujol (MCN) 8-1
3. Kimberly Anicete/Stephanie Nguyen (RICE) def. Andreea Nenu/Diana Pirciu (MCN) 8-2
Match Notes:
McNeese State 2-2
Rice 4-0; National ranking #69
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,2,3,1,5,6)
Players Mentioned
