The Rice Owls men's tennis team ended their regular season with a 4-1 loss to No. 31 SMU at the George R. Brown Tennis Center. The Owls began strong, securing the doubles point for the 16th time this season with wins from Tommy Czaplinski/Rafael Botran and Petro Kuzmenok/Santiago Navarro. However, SMU dominated singles, claiming four victories to clinch the match. Notably, Rice was unable to convert their initial doubles advantage into singles success. The Owls will prepare for the upcoming American Conference Championship in Tulsa from April 16-19.

By the Numbers
  • Rice's overall record: 13-7 this season.
  • The Owls won the doubles point 16 times, with a record of 13-3 when achieving this early advantage.
State of Play
  • Rice confidently took the doubles point but faltered in singles matches.
  • SMU ranked No. 31 has shown consistent performance throughout the season, further highlighted by this victory.
What's Next

The Owls are set to compete in the American Conference Championship starting April 16, aiming for redemption after their season-ending loss to SMU. This tournament will be crucial for their postseason prospects.

Bottom Line

Despite a strong start in doubles, Rice's inability to convert that momentum into singles wins highlights areas for improvement as they head into the championship. The upcoming tournament presents a critical opportunity for the Owls to regroup and showcase their skills.