Kabeer Kapasi Named 2024 Sammy Giammalva Award Winner
6/10/2024 10:15:00 AM | Men's Tennis
HOUSTON, Texas — Sophomore Kabeer Kapasi has been named the winner of the Sammy Giammalva Award as the MVP of the men's tennis team for the 2023-24 season.
In his second year on South Main, Kapasi was named to the AAC All-Conference Doubles Team after posting a 9-3 record alongside Yasha Zemel at the No. 1 position in the lineup. The pair also won the consolation final in doubles play at the ITA Regionals. In singles play, Kapasi went 16-4 in the dual match season, leading the team in singles victories, and recorded the clinching point in the team's 4-3 wins at UC Santa Barbara and UTSA. Kapasi's total of five clinching points tied with Trinity Grear for the team lead. The Houston native was a perfect 7-0 against AAC opponents and went 11-3 in matches decided in straight sets.
Including respective marks of 6-4 and 5-4 in singles and doubles play during the fall tournament season, Kapasi ended with a 22-8 record in singles matches and an 18-9 mark in doubles. Kapasi's 22 wins were tied with Emir Sendogan for the most on the year by an Owl while his 18 doubles victories were an outright team-best.
The Giammalva Award is named after former men's tennis coach Sam Giammalva (1959-72) who twice led Rice to a second-place finish at the NCAA Championship (1968 & 1970), inaugurated the annual Rice Invitational and spearheaded the construction of the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium, the home of Rice Tennis from 1971-2014.
Players Mentioned
