HOUSTON — Sophomore Martin Ayala won his No. 1 singles match and teamed up with senior Daniel Moreiras for a victory at the top doubles spot, but it was not enough, as No. 34 Rice downed UTSA, 6-1, on Saturday at Jake Hess Tennis Stadium. The Roadrunners saw their season record even out at 2-2 with the five-point setback.
Ayala and Moreiras collected an 8-6 triumph against Micahel Nuesslein and Christian Saravia, but the Owls (7-2) picked up the doubles point with wins at the other two positions. Peter Frank and Isamu Tachibana handed sophomore Tyler Brown and freshman Yannick Junger a 8-5 loss at the No. 2 slot, while Philipp Seifert and Jonathan Chang bested senior Max Stratmann and junior Pedro Zanotelli, 8-6, at No. 3.
Ayala recorded UTSA's lone singles win with a 6-4, 6-2 decision against Frank. Stratmann went the distance at the No. 4 position, but he was edged in a second-set tiebreaker by Tachibana, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6). Rice won the remaining four contests in straight sets.
The Roadrunners continue their current five-match road trip next weekend with contests against New Mexico (Feb. 18), New Mexico State (Feb. 19) and Northern Arizona (Feb. 20).
#34 Rice 6, UTSA 1
Doubles
1. Ayala/Moreiras (UTSA) def. Nuesslein/Saravia (RICE) 8-6
2. Frank/Tachibana (RICE) def. Brown/Junger (UTSA) 8-5
3. Seifert/Chang (RICE) def. Zanotelli/Stratmann (UTSA) 8-6
Singles
1. Martin Ayala (UTSA) def. Peter Frank (RICE) 6-4, 6-2
2. #121 Philipp Seifert (RICE) def. Tyler Brown (UTSA) 6-0, 6-1
3. Christian Saravia (RICE) def. Yannick Junger (UTSA) 6-2, 6-1
4. Isamu Tachibana (RICE) def. Max Stratmann (UTSA) 6-1, 7-6 (8-6)
5. Jonathan Chang (RICE) def. Daniel Moreiras (UTSA) 6-0, 6-2
6. Oscar Podlewski (RICE) def. Pedro Zanotelli (UTSA) 6-2, 6-2
