Rice University
USC
USC Holds Off Owls
1/28/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
by Chuck Pool (cpool@rice.edu) -
Lindsey Hodge and Wendy Zhang upset the 18th ranked doubles team in the country and Fernanda Astete picked up a win in singles, but No. 18 USC fought off Rice's bid to advance in the ITA Kickoff Weekend with a 4-2 decision at the Yarbrough Tennis Center in Auburn, Alabama on Saturday.
Rice (1-1) will take on Fresno State (1-1) in a consolation match at 10 a.m. on Sunday while the Trojans will face #15 Auburn later Sunday for a berth in the ITA National Indoor Team Championship.
"It was disappointing we couldn't take the momentum of winning that doubles point and get a few more points on the board in singles Now, it is imperative that we rebound for another tough match tomorrow morning," Rice head coach Elizabeth Schmidt said.
In their first meeting in school history with the Trojans, the Owls started quickly by grabbing the doubles point. Katherine Ip and Savannah Durkin made an early statement, downing Angela Kulikov and Madison Westby, 6-2 but USC struck back with a win on court two, leaving the outcome to court one.
Facing the Trojan's 18th ranked duo of Zoe Katz and Gabby Smith, Zhang and Hodge won the final three games to post the upset and give the Owls the early advantage.
USC responded by taking four of six first sets in singles, with Astete and Hodge the only Owl to find early success. Astete maintained her momentum to down Angela Kulikov 6-3, 6-1 and give Rice its final lead of the afternoon at 2-1. Facing USC's 46th ranked Jessica Failla, Hodge was up a set and tied 3-3 in the second when the match was called.
Sunday's meeting with Fresno will be the first meeting between the two schools since the title match of the 2005 WAC Championships in Schmidt's first year as the Owls' assistant coach. Rice is winless in four previous meetings with Fresno State.
The Owls return to their home courts next Friday when they host Princeton at noon.
#18 Southern California 4, Rice 2
v Singles competition
1. #56 Zoe Katz (USC) def. Wendy Zhang (RICE) 6-4, 6-2
2. Gabby Smith (USC) def. #110 Katherine Ip (RICE) 6-2, 6-1
3. #46 Jessica Failla (USC) vs. Lindsey Hodge (RICE) 4-6, 3-3, unfinished
4. Rianna Valdes (USC) def. #102 Alison Ho (RICE) 6-2, 7-5
5. #52 Madison Westby (USC) def. Savannah Durkin (RICE) 6-3, 6-0
6. Fernanda Astete (RICE) def. Angela Kulikov (USC) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Wendy Zhang/Lindsey Hodge (RICE) def. #18 Zoe Katz/Gabby Smith (USC) 6-4
2. Jessica Failla/Rianna Valdes (USC) def. Alison Ho/Priya Niezgoda (RICE) 6-4
3. Katherine Ip/Savannah Durkin (RICE) def. Angela Kulikov/Madison Westby (USC) 6-2
Match Notes:
Rice 1-1
Southern California 2-0; National ranking #18
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,2,6,1,4)
Match played outdoors
Official: Chris Rodgers T-2:23
Players Mentioned
