Texas Tech Athletics
No. 69 Rice
Lady Raiders Top Rice For First Time Since 1988
February 12, 2012 | Women's Tennis
Kenna Kilgo secured the victory victory over Rice with Texas Tech's fourth point of the match.
Feb. 12, 2012
LUBBOCK, Texas -
It has been a longtime coming, but on Sunday the No. 42 Texas Tech Lady Raider tennis team topped No. 69 Rice, 4-2, at The Falls Athletic Complex.
It marked the first since 1988 that Texas Tech (5-1) has defeated perennial power Rice (6-1) in women's tennis.
"Overall thought it was amazing dual match, Rice competed very well. I am very proud of the way the girls played," said Lady Raider head coach Todd Petty. "We have had great chemistry, but this group has that confidence in each other that is something special."
The day got started when Nikki Sanders and Caroline Stark upended Ana Guzman and Katie Gater, 8-3.
Texas Tech secured the doubles point when the No. 45 tandem of Samantha Adams and Kenna Kilgo topped Rice's Natalie Beazant and Dominique Harmath, 8-4. Beazant and Harmath were 10-2 entering the match and had beaten Adams and Kilgo twice earlier this season.
Elizabeth Ullathorne and Rashmi Teltumbde closed out the doubles sweep for Texas Tech with an 8-4 win over Stephanie Nguyen and Leah Fried.
In singles, Beazant quickly evened the score with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Ullathorne at No. 1. Teletumbde added a straight set win over Ana Guzman at No. 3 to give Tech back the 2-1 lead. But Harmath answered for Rice with a three-set win over Adams, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, tying the match at 2-2.
Sanders then battled back for a 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (9-7) win over Kimberley Anicete at No. 4 and Kilgo won the match a straight set 6-0, 7-5 win over Nguyen at No. 6.
"Nikki was extremely clutch for us all weekend and pulled out a tight one for us that helped us secure the win," said Petty. "We have really done a good job of pulling together as a team and that has allowed us to be successful."
Texas Tech returns to action on Friday, when the Lady Raiders travel to Colorado to face the University of Denver at the Stapleton Tennis Pavilion.
No. 42 Texas Tech 4, No. 69 Rice 2
SINGLES
1. Natalie Beazant (RICE) def. Elizabeth Ullathorne (TT) 6-3, 6-2
2. Dominique Harmath (RICE) def. Samantha Adams (TT) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0
3. Rashmi Teltumbde (TT) def. Ana Guzman (RICE) 6-2, 6-2
4. Nikki Sanders (TT) def. Kimberly Anicete (RICE) 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (9-7)
5. Caroline Starck (TT) vs. Katie Gater (RICE) 1-6, 6-2, unfinished
6. Kenna Kilgo (TT) def. Stephanie Nguyen (RICE) 6-0, 7-5
DOUBLES
1. #45 Samantha Adams / Kenna Kilgo (TT) def. Dominique Harmath / Natalie Beazant (RICE) 8-4
2. Caroline Starck / Nikki Sanders (TT) def. Ana Guzman / Katie Gater (RICE) 8-3
3. Elizabeth Ullathorne / Rashmi Teltumbde (TT) def. Stephanie Nguyen / Leah Fried (RICE) 8-4
MATCH NOTES:
Rice 6-1; National ranking #69
Texas Tech 5-1; National ranking #42
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,3,2,4,6)
Players Mentioned
