Rice University
Western Kentucky
Owls Open C-USA Quest with Shutout
4/20/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
The 43rd ranked Rice women's tennis team righted itself from a sluggish start and took the first step towards a sixth consecutive Conference USA title by downing WKU 5-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2018 C-USA Championship at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center in Norfolk, Virginia on Friday.
The win allowed the Owls to reach the C-USA semifinals for the 12th consecutive year.
The Owls found themselves in an early battle for the doubles point. Savannah Durkin and Michaela Haet raced to a quick 6-2 win at the third position, but the two schools were battling to a draw on the remaining two courts before Fernanda Astete and Priya Niezgoda won three straight games to take a 7-5 decision and give the Owls a 1-0 lead.
Rice carried over the momentum into singles, taking the first sets on all six courts.
Haet and Anna Bowtell increased the lead to 3-0 with quick wins on courts three and five, and Wendy Zhang and Fernanda Astete provided points to spare by winning their matches at the same time to give the Owls a 5-0 win.
"It's always nice to advance," Rice head coach Elizabeth Schmidt said. "We were a little shaky in the doubles and there is definitely room for improvement there tomorrow. Overall our team did a nice job competing and taking care of business."
Rice will take on host ODU in one semifinal after the Monarchs shook off a loss in doubles to defeat North Texas 4-2. The other semifinal will see top-seeded FIU, a 4-0 winner over Charlotte face Middle Tennessee, who upset fourth seeded FAU, 4-3.
WKU vs Rice 4/20/2018 at Norfolk, Va.
(Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center)
#43 Rice 5, WKU 0
Singles competition
1. Lindsey Hodge (RICEW) vs. Moka Ito (WKU) 6-3, 3-5, unfinished
2. Wendy Zhang (RICEW) def. Violetta Shatalova (WKU) 7-5, 6-2
3. Michaela Haet (RICEW) def. Elpida Malamou (WKU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Fernanda Astete (RICEW) def. Monica Malinen (WKU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Anna Bowtell (RICEW) def. Natalia De Ugarte (WKU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Savannah Durkin (RICEW) vs. Cindy Oest (WKU) 6-3, 4-6, 2-0, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Moka Ito/Monica Malinen (WKU) vs. #44 Wendy Zhang/Lindsey Hodge (RICEW) no result
2. Priya Niezgoda/Fernanda Astete (RICEW) def. Natalia De Ugarte/Cindy Oest (WKU) 7-5
3. Michaela Haet/Savannah Durkin (RICEW) def. Elpida Malamou/Violetta Shatalova (WKU) 6-2
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (5,3,4,2)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
5,3,4,2
Players Mentioned
