Rice University
SMU
Women's Tennis Falls in Semifinal Match Against SMU
4/20/2024 3:18:00 PM | Women's Tennis
HOUSTON, Texas — Rice women's tennis saw their season end in a 4-2 loss to top-seeded SMU in the semifinals of the AAC Champinoships at the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex. The Owls finished the season with a 12-10 record.
Doubles: The Mustangs took the opening point of the match with wins at the first and third positions of doubles play. At the second court, junior Saara Orav and sophomore Darya Schwartzman battled to a 4-4 tie when the match was suspended.
Singles: SMU extended its lead with a pair of wins at the second and fourth positions. The Owls mounted a spirited comeback, forcing the remaining four matches to all go the full three sets. Orav put Rice on the board with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 victory at the fourth position. Freshman Nithesa Selvaraj also completed her comeback at the sixth position, coming back following a dropped first set to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. A Mustang victory at the top spot in the lineup, however, ultimately clinched the match for SMU. At the third position, freshman Divna Ratkovic had rallied to a 4-6, 6-1, 6-5 lead when the match was suspended.
Championship History: Rice entered their first appearance at the AAC Championships as the conference's fourth-seeded squad. The Owls reached the semifinals courtesy of a 4-0 win over fifth-seeded South Florida, making it 21 consecutive conference championships in which Rice has advanced to at least the semifinal round.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
2,4,5,6,1
Players Mentioned
