HOUSTON, Texas – Utah State men's tennis (13-6, 1-0 MW) ended their stay at the 61st Ralph O'Connor Rice Invitational with a 4-2 win against Rice (9-11, 0-0 C-USA) on Sunday evening at the George R. Brown Tennis Center.
Rice earned the doubles point as they recorded wins at the second and third position, while freshman Isaac Arevalo Gómez and sophomore Jose Carvajal's match at the top spot went unfinished.
In singles play, junior Duro Opacic tied the match at 1-1 as he posted a 6-1, 6-1 win at the No. 6 spot, while freshman Rithvik Bollipalli notched a 6-3, 6-1 win at the No. 5 spot, making it 2-1 Aggies. Carvajal made it a 3-1 game as he won at the No. 2 spot, 6-4, 7-6 (7). After sophomore Felipe Acosta fell in his first set at the No. 4 spot, he would win his final two sets, 7-5, 6-1 to record the victory.
Utah State will return home where they will host a season-high four-straight matches beginning with Cal Poly on Wednesday, March 27, at 2 p.m., followed by a San Diego State on Friday, March 29, at 11 a.m.
Fans can follow USU's men's tennis team on Twitter @USUMensTennis, on Facebook at UtahStateMensTennis or on Instagram at USUTennis. 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.
RESULTS
Utah State 4, Rice 2
Doubles
1. Jacob Eskeland/Conrad Russell (RICE) vs. Isaac Arevalo Gómez/Jose Carvajal (USU) 5-5, unfinished
2. Mohamed Abdel-Aziz/Karol Paluch (RICE) def. Rithvik Bollipalli/Sergiu Bucur (USU) 6-3
3. Adam Oscislawski/Sumit Sarkar (RICE) def. Felipe Acosta/Duro Opacic (USU) 6-0
Singles
1. #57 Sumit Sarkar (RICE) def. Isaac Arevalo Gómez (USU) 7-6 (1), 7-6 (2)
2. Jose Carvajal (USU) def. Jacob Eskeland (RICE) 6-4, 7-6 (7)
3. Mohamed Abdel-Aziz (RICE) vs. Sergiu Bucur (USU) 6-2, 6-7 (4), 5-5, unfinished
4. Felipe Acosta (USU) def. Conrad Russell (RICE) 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-1
5. Rithvik Bollipalli (USU) def. Adam Oscislawski (RICE) 6-3, 6-1
6. Duro Opacic (USU) def. Karol Paluch (RICE) 6-1, 6-1
Match Notes:
Utah State 13-6
Rice 9-11
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,5,2,1,4)
-USU-
