LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men's tennis will head to Houston, Texas, for the 61st Ralph O'Connor Rice Invitational, where they will face No. 29 Texas Tech on Friday, March 22, at 4 p.m. (MT), No. 45 Dartmouth on Saturday, March 23, at 11 a.m. (MT) and host-Rice on Sunday, March 24, at 4 p.m. (MT).
"This weekend will be a huge opportunity for us against three great opponent," said head coach James Wilson. "Our team is fired up and looking forward to battling."
Utah State (12-4, 1-0 MW) is led by sophomore Felipe Acosta, who is 12-2. The Aggies' last match saw Acosta clinch the 4-2 win against UTSA, as that was the second time this season and third time in his career he has clinched a match. Junior Duro Opacic also has 12 wins on the season and is currently tied for 14th in single-season singles wins with 21.
Wilson and assistant coach Carlos Di Laura will both be facing his alma-mater, Texas Tech, for the first time as head and assistant coach at Utah State. This will be the second meeting between Utah State and Texas Tech as the Red Raiders are 11-6 this season. Texas Tech is led by No. 99-ranked Parker Wynn, who is 12-3, while the doubles team of Wynn and Bjorn Thompson, who are ranked No. 9 by the ITA, sit at 9-3 at the No. 1 spot.
The Aggies and Big Green will square off for the first time as Dartmouth are led by No. 34 Charlie Broom, who is 6-4, while the doubles tandem of Broom and David Horneffer are 2-1 and ranked No. 20 by the ITA.
Utah State competed against Rice for the first time in program history last season, as the Aggies swept the Owls, 4-0, in the San Diego Spring Classic. Rice is led by No. 57 Sumit Sarkar, who is 10-4 this season, while Sarkar and Eric Rutledge are ranked 39th in doubles and are 6-4 this season at the top spot.
Fans can follow USU's Men's tennis team on Twitter @USUMensTennis, on Facebook at UtahStateMensTennis or on Instagram @USUMensTennis. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter at @USUAthletics, on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics or on Instagram at @USUAthletics.
-USU-
