Rice University
Arkansas
Men's Tennis Faces UTSA On the Road Before Home Bout Versus Arkansas
4/5/2024 12:25:00 PM | Men's Tennis
In Brief: Rice men's tennis returns to the Lone Star State to take on No. 69 UTSA in San Antonio on Saturday, April 6, at 10 a.m. (CT). The Owls will then return to the George R. Brown Tennis Center to host No. 41 Arkansas on Monday, April 8, at noon (CT).
The Schedule: Saturday - at No. 69 UTSA - 1 p.m. (CT) | Monday - vs. No. 41 Arkansas - Noon CT
Match Info: The Owls head to San Antonio to take on No. 69 UTSA at the UTSA Tennis Center. Live results for the match will be provided via UTSA athletics. The Owls will then return home to the George R. Brown Tennis Center to host No. 41 Arkansas. The match is scheduled for noon (CT) and is free admission. Live video and results will also be available for the match.
The Owls: Rice is currently riding an eight-match winning streak after a pair of matches in Charlotte, North Carolina, posting a 4-0 sweep of Presbyterian and a 4-3 win over No. 70 Charlotte. Against the Blue Hose, Rice took doubles with commanding wins at the second and third positions while also leading at the top spot. In singles play, juniors Eduardo Morais and Emir Sendogan plus freshman Petro Kuzmenok all posted victories in straight sets to clinch the match for the Owls. Versus the 49ers, Rice jumped out to a 3-0 lead after earning the doubles point and singles wins from Sendogan and junior Arthus de la Bassetiere. After three straight wins from Charlotte tied the match at 3-3, Kuzmenok delivered the clinching point to second the win and preserve the team's eight-match winning streak.
The Opposition: Rice holds a 20-6 all-time mark against UTSA, including wins in each of the previous two meetings. The Owls are also 2-1 in San Antonio against the Roadrunners. Rice won the first 11 meetings in the series and holds an 8-5 record against UTSA since the two became conference rivals when the Roadrunners joined C-USA in 2014. UTSA is 9-8 this season and ranked 69th in the latest ITA rankings. The Roadrunners have scored wins over Utah (twice), Wichita State and No. 62 Oregon.
The Owls and Razorbacks will meet for only the third time since being members of the Southwest Conference. The two sides met last in the NCAA Regional on May 14, 1994, resulting in a 4-0 Arkansas victory. Rice is 2-9 all-time against Arkansas, posting back-to-back home wins in 1990 and 1991. The Razorbacks are 15-9 and were ranked 41st in the latest ITA rankings. Arkansas is 2-1 this season against AAC teams, recording wins against SMU and Tulsa but falling to Memphis, 4-3.
Players Mentioned
