Cajuns Drop Close 4-3 Decision to No.57 Rice

Contact: Jeff Schneider

HOUSTON, Texas – The Ragin' Cajuns men's tennis team dropped a close 4-3 decision to 57th ranked Rice at Jake Hess Tennis Stadium in Houston on Saturday afternoon.

“Building leads and not being able to finish was the difference today,” head coach Mark Jeffrey said. “We have to stay stronger and be supremely confident when finishing matches. We need to work on that at practice this week.”

With the loss, Louisiana falls to 5-5 on the season as the Cajuns have been unable to breakthrough against teams ranked in the ITA top 75.

In doubles action, the Cajuns duo of Rick de Groot and Jake Wynan claimed the first victory on court one defeating the team of Adam Gustafsson and Tommy Bennett 8-3.

After the Owls (3-6) claimed a win at No.2 doubles, Rice's Leif Berger and Jonathan Chang edged out the doubles team of Hunter and Yates Johnson 9-8 to take the doubles point.

Rice increased its advantage to 2-0 after a 6-0, 7-5 victory by Gustavo Gonzalez over Yates Johnson at No.6 singles.

Freshman Edgar Lopez pulled the Cajuns within a point after notching his fifth win of the season defeating Peter Frank 6-2, 7-5 on court five. The Owls clinched the match after wins at No.3 and 2 singles.

On court one, de Groot pulled out a three set battle against the Owls' Jonathan Chang, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, while Jarred Wynan picked up the Cajuns final point of the match at the No.4 position defeating Tommy Bennett in three sets, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

Louisiana returns to action next weekend as the Ragin' Cajuns head to Corpus Christi, Texas for the HEB Tournament of Champions from March 1-2.

#57 Rice 4, Louisiana 3

Singles competition
1. Rick de Groot (UL) def. Jonathan Chang (RICE) 2-6, 6-4, 7-5
2. Adam Gustafsson (RICE) def. Jake Wynan (UL) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
3. Philipp Seifert (RICE) def. Hunter Johnson (UL) 7-5, 6-4
4. Jarred Wynan (UL) def. Tommy Bennett (RICE) 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Edgar Lopez (UL) def. Peter Frank (RICE) 6-2, 7-5
6. Gustavo Gonzalez (RICE) def. Yates Johnson (UL) 6-0, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Rick de Groot/Jake Wynan (UL) def. Adam Gustafsson/Tommy Bennett (RICE) 8-3
2. Peter Frank/Philipp Seifert (RICE) def. Jarred Wynan/Edgar Lopez (UL) 8-6
3. Leif Berger/Jonathan Chang (RICE) def. Hunter Johnson/Yates Johnson (UL) 9-8

Match Notes:
Louisiana 5-5
Rice 3-6; National ranking #57
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,5,3,2,1,4)

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Cajuns Drop Close 4-3 Decision to No.57 Rice

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