Rice University
Sam Houston
Women's Tennis Prepares for Split Week of Competition
3/4/2024 10:57:00 AM | Women's Tennis
In Brief: Rice women's tennis will split its week at home and on the road. The Owls will host Sam Houston at the George R. Brown Tennis Center on Tuesday, March 5, at 2 p.m. (CT), before finishing the week at No. 39 SMU on Saturday, March 9, at 1 p.m. (CT) at the Altec Tennis Complex in Dallas.
The Schedule: Tuesday - vs. Sam Houston - 2 p.m. (CT) | Saturday - at No. 39 SMU - 1 p.m. (CT)
Match Info: The Owls will host Sam Houston at the George R. Brown Tennis Center on Tuesday, March 5, at 2 p.m. (CT). Live video and results will be available for both matches through RiceOwls.com.
Rice will travel to Dallas, Texas, to take on SMU on Saturday, March 9, at 1 p.m. (CT) at the Altec Tennis Complex. Live results for the match will be provided by SMU athletics.
The Owls: Rice is 4-6 this season after sweeping No. 69-ranked UNLV, 4-0, last weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Owls secured the doubles point with wins at each of the top two positions of the doubles lineup. Singles victories from graduate senior Chie Kezuka, sophomore Darya Schwartzman and freshman Divna Ratkovic clinched the win for Rice, the team's second sweep over an ITA-ranked opponent this season.
The Opposition: Rice is 18-0 all-time against Sam Houston, dating back to the 1987 season, with 14 victories coming at home. The Owls won the last matchup, 7-0, last season at the George R. Brown Tennis Center. Rice secured the doubles point in convincing fashion before sweeping singles play, with current Owls Federica Trevisan, Saara Orav and Schwartzman all posting wins. The Bearkats are 3-4 this season with wins over Prairie View A&M (twice) and UT Tyler.
The Owls and Mustangs will meet for the 44th time on Saturday. Rice trails SMU in the all-time series, 25-18, though the Owls do boast a 9-8 road record against SMU. The Mustangs have won the past four meetings, including a 4-2 win last season in Houston. SMU was ranked 39th in the latest ITA rankings and boasts the nation's 50th-ranked doubles team (Taylor Johnson and Lana Mavor). The Mustangs are 5-6 this season, including wins over No. 23 Vanderbilt and No. 27 Denver.
Players Mentioned
