HOUSTON - The No. 24-ranked Tulsa women’s tennis squad lost to the No. 20-ranked Rice Owls, 4-1, on Sunday in the finals of the Conference USA Women’s Tennis Championship at the John E. Hoff Courts.
The Golden Hurricane (19-6) were aiming for its fourth-straight Conference USA title, but was denied by the Owls (20-4). The loss also snapped a 10 match winning streak for TU.
Tulsa started off well in doubles, as the No. 21-ranked doubles tandem of Samantha Vickers and Isaura Enrique defeated No. 20-ranked Natalie Beazant and Dominique Harmath, 8-3 on the top court. However, Rice’s Katie Gater and Liat Zimmermann defeated the TU duo of Michelle Farley and Saana Saarteinen, 8-3 at No. 2 doubles to even things up. On court 3, TU’s Maria Sant’Anna and Renata Kuricova battled strong, but fell to Daniela Trigo and Solomiya Zinko, 8-6.
In singles play, TU dropped matches at No. 2 and No. 5 singles to give Rice a 3-0 lead.
On Court 5, Sant’Anna lost a 6-1, 6-3, match to Kimberly Anicete, while Enrique fell at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-4 to No. 70-ranked Harmath.
Farley put the Hurricane on the board with a 7-5, 6-2 win on Court 3.
The Owls clinched the match on Court 4, as Rice’s Gater defeated Saarteinen, 6-3, 6-4.
Tulsa will wait to see if they earn an at-large selection into the NCAA Tennis Championships. The announcement will made Tuesday, April 30, on NCAA Division I Tennis Championships Selection Show televised on NCAA.com
Rice vs Tulsa
#20 Rice 4, #24 Tulsa 1
Apr 21, 2013 at Houston, Texas (John E. Hoff Courts)
Singles competition
1. #43 Natalie Beazant (RICE) vs. #14 Samantha Vickers (TLS) 6-4, 4-6, 3-3, unfinished
2. #70 Dominique Harmath (RICE) def. Isaura Enrique (TLS) 6-2, 6-4
3. Michelle Farley (TLS) def. Liat Zimmermann (RICE) 7-5, 6-2
4. Katie Gater (RICE) def. Saana Saarteinen (TLS) 6-3, 6-4
5. Kimberly Anicete (RICE) def. Maria Sant'Anna (TLS) 6-1, 6-3
6. Solomiya Zinko (RICE) vs. Renata Kuricova (TLS) 3-6, 6-4, 1-3, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #21 Samantha Vickers/Isaura Enrique (TLS) def. #20 Natalie Beazant/Dominique Harmath (RICE) 8-3
2. Katie Gater/Liat Zimmermann (RICE) def. Michelle Farley/Saana Saarteinen (TLS) 8-3
3. Daniela Trigo/Solomiya Zinko (RICE) def. Maria Sant'Anna/Renata Kuricova (TLS) 8-6
Match Notes:
Tulsa 19-6; National ranking #24
Rice 20-4; National ranking #20
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (5,2,3,4)
T-3:33
