RELATED LINKSMatch results
HOUSTON — Junior Tyler Brown's dramatic three-set victory at No. 2 singles propelled UTSA to a 4-3 upset victory at No. 36 Rice on Saturday at Jake Hess Tennis Stadium.
It marked the program's first win against a ranked opponent since March 3, 2007, when the Roadrunners (1-4) defeated No. 75 San Francisco.
Brown, who won the first set, 6-4, against Peter Frank, dropped the second panel, 4-6. The 2011 Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year then registered a 6-2 victory that clinched the match and the team's first win of the spring.
UTSA, which was playing the final tilt of a season-opening five-match road trip, took the opening point after posting identical 8-4 victories at the Nos. 1 and 2 doubles spots.
However, the Owls (5-4) tied the match following Christian Saravia's straight-sets win against senior Daniel Moser at No. 5 singles.
The Roadrunners regained the lead when sophomore Yannick Junger held off Harry Fowler with a 7-5, 7-5 triumph at the top spot. Freshman David Kelleher then pushed the advantage to 3-1 with a 7-5, 6-2 triumph against Justin To at the No. 6 position.
Rice once again responded and rallied to tie the match following two-set wins at Nos. 3 and 4 singles, which left only the second position to finish.
UTSA will open its home slate on Wednesday, Feb. 15, when it hosts Trinity at 3 p.m.
UTSA 4, #36 Rice 3
Doubles
1. Junger/Zanotelli (UTSA) def. Fowler/Saravia (RU) 8-4
2. Ayala/Brown (UTSA) def. Frank/Seifert (RU) 8-4
3. Berger/Chang (RU) def. Rubio/Kilgo (UTSA) 8-6
Singles
1. Yannick Junger (UTSA) def. Harry Fowler (RU) 7-5, 7-5
2. Tyler Brown (UTSA) def. Peter Frank (RU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
3. Jonathan Chang (RU) def. Martin Ayala (UTSA) 6-4, 7-5
4. Phillipp Seifert (RU) def. Joel Rubio (UTSA) 6-4, 6-4
5. Christian Saravia (RU) def. Daniel Moser (UTSA) 6-4, 6-2
6. David Kelleher (UTSA) def. Justin To (RU) 7-5, 6-2