Rice Men’s Tennis Faces No. 8 Baylor in Close Battle
HOUSTON — The Rice Owls men’s tennis team had a tough opener against No. 8 Baylor, falling 4-3 at the George R. Brown Tennis Center. The match showcased strong performances, including two ranked singles victories.
Baylor started strong, taking the doubles point. Yair Sarouk and Kabeer Kapasi lost 6-1, while Tommy Czaplinski and Rafael Botran fell 6-2. Another match featuring Petro Kuzmenok and Santiago Navarro was halted at 4-3.
In singles, Rice rallied back. Gabriel Porras put the Owls on the board with a solid 6-2, 6-2 win. Kuzmenok then evened the score with a 6-2, 6-4 triumph over No. 13 Devin Badenhorst.
Baylor quickly responded. Botran lost his match 6-3, 7-5, giving Baylor the lead again. Kabeer Kapasi tied the match once more after defeating No. 73 Alexandru Chirita with a score of 6-4, 6-4. In a nail-biter, Navarro fell 7-5, 6-3, sealing the victory for Baylor.
Looking ahead, Rice will compete again on March 6, kicking off the 67th Ralph O’Connor Rice Invitational against DePaul and later facing UAB.
Match Results:
Doubles
- Kuzmenok & Navarro (RICE) vs. Chirita & Velcz (BU) 4-3 (unfinished)
- Van Schalkwyk & Koenig (BU) def. Sarouk & Kapasi (RICE) 6-1
- Badenhorst & Anderson (BU) def. Czaplinksi & Botran (RICE) 6-2
Singles
- Kuzmenok (RICE) def. #13 Badenhorst (BU) 6-2, 6-4
39 Velcz (BU) def. Botran (RICE) 6-3, 7-5
27 Van Schalkwyk (BU) def. Navarro (RICE) 7-5, 6-3
- Kapasi (RICE) def. #73 Chirita (BU) 6-4, 6-4
- Koenig (BU) def. Sarouk (RICE) 6-2, 6-4
- Porras (RICE) def. Baierl (BU) 6-2, 6-2
This match not only highlighted the competitive spirit of NCAA tennis but also reflected the increasing challenges teams face from higher-ranked opponents. Fans are eager to see how Rice will adapt in future matches.
For further details about college tennis and team rankings, you can visit the NCAA website.
