Tulane University
#29 Rice
Men's Tennis Falls To #29 Rice
Feb 4, 2011 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 4, 2011
NEW ORLEANS - For the second straight match, the Tulane men's tennis team was forced inside due to inclement weather, but this time the result was different in the Green Wave's 4-2 loss to No. 29 Rice on Friday afternoon at the Hilton River Center Indoor Tennis Center.
Tulane (3-1, 0-1 C-USA) won two of the first three singles matches with Radu Ionescu and Joe Young each taking their matches in straight sets, but Rice (5-1, 1-0 C-USA) proved to be too much in the second three singles matches.
"I'm really pleased with the way we competed today," Tulane head coach Mark Booras said. "We were the underdogs and we knew that a lot of pressure was going to be on Rice so we came out swinging from the hip. We had a great momentum boost in the beginning with everybody getting out to a great start. At that point the guys realized the level that they could play at, but Rice's experience and depth took over and they were able to come from behind."
Ionescu defeated Rice's Michael Nusslein, 6-2, 6-3, on court two, while Young got past Sam Garforth-Bles, 6-4, 6-4, on court three. Young's win gave the Green Wave a 2-1 lead in the match.
Tulane's Idan Mark battled No. 44 Harry Fowler deep in the opening set on court one, only to fall 7-6 before dropping the second set, 6-4.
Rice's Philip Seifert defeated Shaye Wali, 6-2, 6-4, on court four, while Oscar Podlewski upended Rodrigo Rappaccoili, 6-3, 6-3, on court five. Christian Saravia, playing on court six for the Owls, won, 6-3, 6-4, over Takuma Ohashi.
"The guys should be really proud of themselves as well," Booras added. "Rice's head coach (Ron Smarr) said we had outplayed them and that means a lot coming from a coach with a lot of experience who's been at the highest level of college tennis. That should let our guys know that hard work and effort are always rewarded."
Doubles was not played due to time constrains and only would have been played had the match been tied after singles.
Tulane returns to the courts on Saturday at noon to battle Florida A&M at the Goldring Tennis Center.
"Florida A&M is a solid team," Booras said. "That year we had a battle with them so they are going to be another team that comes in here hungry to get back at us. They have strength from one to six and we match-up evenly with them so it is going to be a match about attitude."
Players Mentioned
