Owls Add Three for 2021-22 season
4/15/2021 1:33:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Senior Day set for Saturday
Rice men's tennis coach Efe Ustundag announced on Thursday the addition one transfer and two incoming freshmen who will join the squad for the 2021-22 season.
The Owls have added Dylan Heap, who is currently playing at the second singles line for the University of Minnesota as well as incoming freshmen Emir Sendogan and Haoyuan (Tony) Huang.
"With the number of seniors we have on this year's team, it was important to add some quality experience to the lineup for next year and we are excited to have Dylan join us," Ustundag said. "Playing at the top end of the lineup in the Big Ten is a true test and that level of experience will be a great addition to our team.
"Emir and Tony are tournament-tested from their success at the junior level and they know what it takes to be successful. They are two great additions our future," Ustundag added.
A native of Christchurch, New Zealand, Heep originally signed with the Gophers in 2018. He redshirted during his first season and posted a 4-4 singles mark and 5-0 doubles record during tournament action in the fall of 2019 before the dual season was cut short by pandemic shutdown. Minnesota announced in September that men's tennis would be discontinued after the current season, allowing Heap to sign with the Owls for next season while competing for the Gophers this year. He has posted a 5-7 singles mark against Big Ten opponents in dual action this spring while splitting time between the second and third lines. He was an Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2020. During his junior career, he reach a career-best ITF junior ranking of 335. He was an Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2020. During his junior career, he reach a career-best ITF junior ranking of 335.
Sendogan has been a member of the Turkish national team at the U-14, 16 and 18 levels and was the national U-16 champion. He had a career high ITF Junior ranking of 128 and his career-high in the ATP rankings was 1579. He played in the 2019 Australian Open junior tournament and has won two G5 and one G4 junior singles titles and one G3 doubles title in his career.
Huang trained in Florida from 2012-19 and reached a career-best ITF junior ranking of 94 in January of 2020. He captured the Eddie Herr Boys 16 singles title in 2018 and was ranked fifth in his class by the Tennis Recruiting Network in 2019.
Ustundag's Owls will wrap up their 2021 dual season on Saturday when they host 20th ranked Tulane for Senior Day at 1 pm.
The Owls have added Dylan Heap, who is currently playing at the second singles line for the University of Minnesota as well as incoming freshmen Emir Sendogan and Haoyuan (Tony) Huang.
"With the number of seniors we have on this year's team, it was important to add some quality experience to the lineup for next year and we are excited to have Dylan join us," Ustundag said. "Playing at the top end of the lineup in the Big Ten is a true test and that level of experience will be a great addition to our team.
"Emir and Tony are tournament-tested from their success at the junior level and they know what it takes to be successful. They are two great additions our future," Ustundag added.
A native of Christchurch, New Zealand, Heep originally signed with the Gophers in 2018. He redshirted during his first season and posted a 4-4 singles mark and 5-0 doubles record during tournament action in the fall of 2019 before the dual season was cut short by pandemic shutdown. Minnesota announced in September that men's tennis would be discontinued after the current season, allowing Heap to sign with the Owls for next season while competing for the Gophers this year. He has posted a 5-7 singles mark against Big Ten opponents in dual action this spring while splitting time between the second and third lines. He was an Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2020. During his junior career, he reach a career-best ITF junior ranking of 335. He was an Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2020. During his junior career, he reach a career-best ITF junior ranking of 335.
Sendogan has been a member of the Turkish national team at the U-14, 16 and 18 levels and was the national U-16 champion. He had a career high ITF Junior ranking of 128 and his career-high in the ATP rankings was 1579. He played in the 2019 Australian Open junior tournament and has won two G5 and one G4 junior singles titles and one G3 doubles title in his career.
Huang trained in Florida from 2012-19 and reached a career-best ITF junior ranking of 94 in January of 2020. He captured the Eddie Herr Boys 16 singles title in 2018 and was ranked fifth in his class by the Tennis Recruiting Network in 2019.
Ustundag's Owls will wrap up their 2021 dual season on Saturday when they host 20th ranked Tulane for Senior Day at 1 pm.
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