Rice University Athletics
Wednesday, April 8
George R Brown Tennis Center
5:30 PM
Rice University
1
vs
4
SMU
Owls Fall to No. 31 SMU to Close Regular Season
4/8/2026 9:52:00 PM | Men's Tennis
HOUSTON – The Rice men's tennis team fell 4-1 to No. 31 SMU on Wednesday night to close the regular season at the George R. Brown Tennis Center.
The No. 50 Owls (13-7) secured the doubles point for the 16th time this season and were 13-3 when claiming the early advantage.
Rice wasted no time in doubles as Tommy Czaplinski and Rafael Botran defeated Georgi Georgiev and Vika Deo 6-1. On court one, Petro Kuzmenok and Santiago Navarro clinched the point with a 6-2 win over Trevor Svajda and Jerry Barton. When play was halted, Yair Sarouk and Kabeer Kapasi led 5-4 on court two.
SMU responded in singles beginning on court five, where Gabriel Porras fell 6-4, 6-1 to Barton to put the Mustangs on the board. No. 2-ranked Svajda defeated Kuzmenok 6-2, 6-3 on court one, and Georgiev followed with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Botran on court three. SMU clinched the match on court four, where Kapasi fell 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to Krish Arora.
When play was halted, Navarro led 5-0 in the final set after splitting the first two sets 6-7, 6-2 and held match point at 40-30 on court two. On court six, Noey Do led 2-0 in the third set after splitting the opening sets 6-4, 5-7.
The Owls will next compete in the American Conference Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from April 16-19.
RESULTS
DOUBLES
#47 P. Kuzmenok/S. Navarro (RICE) def. T. Svajda/J. Barton (SMU) 6-2 Y. Sarouk/K. Kapasi (RICE) vs A. Finkelstein/K. Arora (SMU) 5-4 uf T. Czaplisnki/R. Botran (RICE) def. G. Georgiev/V. Deo (SMU) 6-1 Order of Finish: 3, 1
SINGLES #2 Svajda (SMU) def. #54 P. Kuzmenok (RICE) 6-2, 6-3 S. Navarro (RICE) vs A. Finkelstein (SMU) 6-7, 6-2, 5-0 uf G. Georgiev (SMU) def. R. Botran (RICE) 6-4, 6-3 K. Arora (SMU) def. K. Kapasi (RICE) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 J. Barton (SMU) def. G. Porras (RICE) 6-4, 6-1 N. Do (RICE) vs N. McDonald (SMU) 6-4, 5-7, 2-0 uf Order of Finish: 5, 1, 3, 4
The No. 50 Owls (13-7) secured the doubles point for the 16th time this season and were 13-3 when claiming the early advantage.
Rice wasted no time in doubles as Tommy Czaplinski and Rafael Botran defeated Georgi Georgiev and Vika Deo 6-1. On court one, Petro Kuzmenok and Santiago Navarro clinched the point with a 6-2 win over Trevor Svajda and Jerry Barton. When play was halted, Yair Sarouk and Kabeer Kapasi led 5-4 on court two.
SMU responded in singles beginning on court five, where Gabriel Porras fell 6-4, 6-1 to Barton to put the Mustangs on the board. No. 2-ranked Svajda defeated Kuzmenok 6-2, 6-3 on court one, and Georgiev followed with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Botran on court three. SMU clinched the match on court four, where Kapasi fell 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to Krish Arora.
When play was halted, Navarro led 5-0 in the final set after splitting the first two sets 6-7, 6-2 and held match point at 40-30 on court two. On court six, Noey Do led 2-0 in the third set after splitting the opening sets 6-4, 5-7.
The Owls will next compete in the American Conference Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from April 16-19.
RESULTS
DOUBLES
#47 P. Kuzmenok/S. Navarro (RICE) def. T. Svajda/J. Barton (SMU) 6-2 Y. Sarouk/K. Kapasi (RICE) vs A. Finkelstein/K. Arora (SMU) 5-4 uf T. Czaplisnki/R. Botran (RICE) def. G. Georgiev/V. Deo (SMU) 6-1 Order of Finish: 3, 1
SINGLES #2 Svajda (SMU) def. #54 P. Kuzmenok (RICE) 6-2, 6-3 S. Navarro (RICE) vs A. Finkelstein (SMU) 6-7, 6-2, 5-0 uf G. Georgiev (SMU) def. R. Botran (RICE) 6-4, 6-3 K. Arora (SMU) def. K. Kapasi (RICE) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 J. Barton (SMU) def. G. Porras (RICE) 6-4, 6-1 N. Do (RICE) vs N. McDonald (SMU) 6-4, 5-7, 2-0 uf Order of Finish: 5, 1, 3, 4
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
12
Trevor Svajda / 0 (2/-) [SMU]
66
23
#2 Singles Match
1234
Alex Finkelstein / 0 [SMU]
7200
665UF
#3 Singles Match
12
Georgi Georgiev / 0 [SMU]
66
43
#4 Singles Match
123
Krish Arora / 0 [SMU]
656
474
#5 Singles Match
12
Jerry Barton / 0 [SMU]
66
41
#6 Singles Match
1234
Noah McDonald / 0 [SMU]
4700
652UF
Order of Finish:
5,1,3,4
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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