Rice University
UT Arlington
No. 65 Men's Tennis Goes 2-0 on Saturday
3/8/2025 7:29:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Knocks off UT Arlington, Abilene Christian
HOUSTON - 65th-ranked Rice men's tennis went 2-0 on Saturday, taking down back-to-back WAC Champion UT Arlington and Abilene Christian at the George R. Brown Tennis Center.
MATCH ONE - RICE (4) vs. UT ARLINGTON (2)
Rice claimed the doubles point against the Mavericks with two victories in the doubles portion of the match, first with Arthus de la Bassetiere and Eduardo Morais taking down their opponents on court two, 6-2. Petro Kuzmenok and Tommy Czaplinski earned a 7-5 victory on the first line to claim the doubles point. Kabeer Kapasi and Yair Sarouk were tied at 5-5 with their opponents before doubles were called.
In singles play, Kuzmenok bright the Owls lead to 2-0 with a 6-4, 6-4, victory at the first line. Kapasi followed that win up with a 6-4, 6-4, win of his own, giving the Owls a 3-0 lead. The Mavericks, however, did not go easily, and won the match on the fourth line, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1, and on the sixth line, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, to cut the lead to 3-2. De la Bassetiere was able to clinch the match at the second line, putting up a pair of 6-4 set victories after falling 5-7 in his first set.
Rice improved to 9-4 while UTA fell to 6-6, seeing their winning streak stopped at four matches.
MATCH TWO - RICE (4) vs. ABILENE CHRISTIAN (1)
Rice needed all three matches in doubles to claim the doubles point, with Kapasi and Kuzmenok first earning a win on two with a 6-2 decision. ACU was able to take the first court with a 6-2 decision, meaning that court three would decide the doubles point. At three, Sendogan and Porras would win the 6-6 tie breaker and taking the doubles point for Rice with a 7-6 (5) decision.
In singles play, Rice took a 2-0 lead with a win on the first court, as Kuzmenok's opponent withdrew in the second set. Abilene Christian would get on the board with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at the second line, but Porras would build the lead back to 3-1 with a 6-1, 6-4 victory at the sixth line. With the three remaining matches heading to third sets, it was Kapasi who would clinch the match with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 decision.
Rice improved to 10-4 on the season while ACU fell to 9-6.
Rice will return to action on Tuesday, March 11, when the Owls head to College Station to take on the 15th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies. Action is set to kick off at 6 PM.
UTA RESULTS
DOUBLES
P. Kuzmenok/T. Czaplinski (RICE) def. M. Barot/P. Sasso (UTA), 7-5
A. de la Bassetiere/E. Morais (RICE) def. M. Ricci/A. Medus (UTA), 6-2
K. Kapasi/Y. Sarouk (RICE) vs. D. Perez/F. Garbero (UTA), 5-5
Order of Finish: 2, 1*
SINGLES
P. Kuzmenok (RICE) def. M. Barot (UTA), 6-4, 6-4
A. de la Bassetiere (RICE) def. A. Medus (UTA), 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
E. Sendogan (RICE) vs. P. Sasso (UTA), 6-7, 6-4, 5-3 uf
M. Ricci (UTA) def. T. Czaplinski (RICE), 7-5, 6-1, 6-1
K. Kapasi (RICE) def. D. Perez (UTA), 6-4, 6-4
Y. Lahjomri (UTA) def. Y. Sarouk (RICE), 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
Order of Finish: 1, 5, 4, 6, 2*
ACU RESULTS
DOUBLES
O. Morozov/M. Deli (ACU) def. A. de la Bassetiere/E. Morais (RICE), 6-2
K. Kapasi/P. Kuzmenok (RICE) def. B. McDonald/E. Scribner (ACU), 6-2
E. Sendogan/G. Porras (RICE) vs. M. Lima/M. Delnido (ACU), 7-6 (5)
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3*
SINGLES
P. Kuzmenok (RICE) def. D. Morozov (ACU), 6-1, 3-1 (Wd)
M. Deli (ACU) def. A. de la Bassetiere (RICE), 6-1, 6-1
K. Kapasi (RICE) def. D. Dutine (ACU), 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
H. Huang (RICE) vs. T. Tischner (ACU), 3-6, 6-3, 4-2 uf
E. Morais (RICE) vs. B. McDonald (ACU), 6-2, 2-6, 4-2 uf
G. Porras (RICE) def. M. Delnido (ACU), 6-1, 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 6, 3*
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
1,5,4,6,2
Players Mentioned
