SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA men's tennis team opened its 2021 season with a 5-2 win over conference power Rice, on Saturday at the UTSA Tennis Center.
UTSA used a strong performance in singles, claiming five of six singles points after dropping the doubles point to open the match.
"I am very proud of the guys to bring the level and get a big season opener win against a good Rice team," UTSA second-year head coach Sergey Avdeyev said. "We got to make few adjustments in doubles but overall I was very pleased with the level."
Joao Ceolin (Palotina, Brazil) and Javier Gonzalez (San Fernado, Chile) teamed up to win their dobules point and each went on to earn singles points to help UTSA secure the win.
Sebastian Rodriguez (Trujillo, Peru) earned a 6-4, 6-4, win in the No. 1 spot in the lineup. Rodriguez earned all-conference honors as a sophomore in 2019 after a 17-win season in singles.
UTSA also got a singles points from Javier Rodriguez (Trujillo, Peru), in a 7-6, 6-1 win. Freshman Garrett Skelly (The Woodlands, Texas) – a transfer after George Washington shuttered its program in the fall – claimed a comeback 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win.
The Roadrunners will return to action with a two-game swing in Louisiana, taking on Tulane on Friday and LSU on Saturday.
UTSA 5, Rice 2
Singles competition
1. Sebastian Rodriguez (UTSA) def. Sumit Sarkar (RICE) 6-4, 6-4
2. Jacob Eskeland (RICE) def. Juri Reckow (UTSA) 7-6, 1-6, 7-6 (2-0)
3. Joao Ceolin (UTSA) def. Mohamed Abdel-Aziz (RICE) 6-3, 6-1
4. Javier Gonzalez (UTSA) def. Campbell Salmon (RICE) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
5. Javier Rodriguez (UTSA) def. Wes Barnett (RICE) 7-6 (4-0), 6-1
6. Garrett Skelly (UTSA) def. Trinity Grear (RICE) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Sumit Sarkar/Conrad Russell (RICE) def. Juri Reckow/Sebastian Rodriguez (UTSA) 6-1
2. Joao Ceolin/Javier Gonzalez (UTSA) def. Jacob Eskeland/Mohamed Abdel-Aziz (RICE) 6-4
3. Trinity Grear/Wes Barnett (RICE) def. Garrett Skelly/Javier Rodriguez (UTSA) 6-4
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