Women’s tennis splits a pair
The women’s tennis team suffered its first home loss of the season Friday, falling to 44th-ranked Sacramento State University in a close 4-3 dual match a day after easily beating Columbia University 5-2.
“The girls went out this past weekend and … left it all out there,” head coach Roger White said. “They did everything that I asked them to do, but that doesn’t always guarantee a win.”
Rice has just six dual matches remaining before the Conference USA tournament, which will be held April 20-23 in Dallas. White said intangible factors will be important in the conference tournament.
“At this point of the season, it comes down to the team that shows up and wants it more,” White said.
The Owls will play their first dual match against a conference opponent today when they take on 43rd-ranked Southern Methodist University at Jake Hess Tennis Stadium at 3 p.m. Last year, SMU defeated Rice 6-1 in Dallas, but the Owls should have a better chance this season. Rice is 6-1 at home.
A lineup change should also give the Owls a boost. Freshman Alanna Rodgers will move down from the third position to the fifth position. Sophomore Tiffany Lee and senior Medeja Egic will move up a spot to No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Rodgers said the lineup change will help her in the coming matches.
“I felt like I’ve had chances to finish the matches — I just haven’t been doing it,” Rodgers said. “I think switching the lineup will allow me to come up against a different style of player.”
Rice will wrap up its season-long, six-match homestand Saturday at 3 p.m. against the University of Tulsa. The Owls beat the Golden Hurricane 5-2 last year. Tulsa is unranked, but White said the Golden Hurricane are capable.
“Tulsa is not ranked right now, but that isn’t indicative of their level of play,” White said. “They are a very good team. I think both [SMU and Tulsa] are top-50 caliber squads.”
Last week, Rice got off to a quick start against Columbia. Freshman Emily Braid opened the dual match with an easy 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 6. Senior Blair DiSesa, ranked 65th nationally, also won in straight sets at No. 1.
After the Lions secured a singles point at the second position against sophomore Christine Dao, Lee answered with a win at No. 4. Senior Medeja Egic closed the dual match with a three-set win at the fifth spot. The Owls took the doubles point with wins at all three positions.
Rice returned to the court the next day against Sacramento State, losing in an exhausting match lasting more than four hours. Down a point after losing in doubles to the Hornets, Egic tied the score with another easy win, defeating Cecila Helland 6-0, 6-0 at the fifth position. Then Sacramento State took a commanding 3-1 lead with victories at No. 6 and No. 1.
Lee and Dao responded with wins to even the score. Rodgers’ deciding match went to a tiebreaker, which she lost 9-7, and Rice’s upset bid fell short.
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