The Rice men also won today, defeating Tulsa decisively, 4-1.

Rice won the doubles point ... then Tulsa's #1 Rollins beat our Zemel in straight sets. The our #5 Kuzmenok won in straight sets and Sendogan triumphed in three. Our 4th point (which was actually the 2nd singles match to finish) was earned by #6 Kapasi when his opponent, who won the first set of their match, retired. Perhaps someone close to the action can explain what happened.

https://riceowls.com/sports/mens-tennis/...core/27945

The Owls will face the #1 seed Memphis Saturday at noon (Central time).

SMU women beat Rice, 4-2.

Rice men win the doubles point vs Memphis.

Darn.

Men lead 3-2, but gave up opportunities to win at both #2 and #5. Both of those are heading to a third set.

And Memphis comes back to win it.

Damn what a bummer. At least the men finally reached the finals.

(04-20-2024 06:06 PM)Texasowl Wrote:  Damn what a bummer. At least the men finally reached the finals.

It was the semifinals.

At least this season was a turnaround for the men. Put some good wins together and did well in conference, including beating hosts Tulsa in the tournament. Close to achieving more, but a step in the right direction.

I was surprised to see the women have finished top 4 in conference (made conf tournament semis) 20+ straight years, if I read correctly.

Both teams were playing without the No. 1 player from last year due to injuries. Both players should be back next year.

On the women's side, Fedi and Chie will graduate and move on. Zipoli (last year's No. 1) should be back along with this year's 2, 3, 5 and 6.

On the men's side, Trinity Grear will graduate and move on. As I understand it, Yasha Zelem (this year's No. 1) has been admitted to graduate school if the NCAA grants an additional year (since he played the COVID year at Kentucky). If he isn't granted the additional year, he will probably move on from Rice (due to the costs involved, although I understand that Rice really would like to see him here in graduate school next year).

Bob Schlanger told JP Heath during Friday night's baseball game broadcast that our men's tennis team is in the running for an at large spot in the NCAA tournament.

We'll find out if they get in on Monday evening (April 29), when the tournament's selection show will air on NCAA.com, starting at 5pm Central time.

(04-26-2024 08:51 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  Bob Schlanger told JP Heath during Friday night's baseball game broadcast that our men's tennis team is in the running for an at large spot in the NCAA tournament.

We'll find out if they get in on Monday evening (April 29), when the tournament's selection show will air on NCAA.com, starting at 5pm Central time.

Yup, it was mentioned yesterday at Night of Flight that we need some good wishes going their way Monday.

Do we have any singles or pairs who are in contention for the NCAA singles or doubles championships?

(04-27-2024 12:52 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  Do we have any singles or pairs who are in contention for the NCAA singles or doubles championships?

According to the Owls' latest match reports, our mendon't have any ranked singles or doubles competitors. But in Rice's last two matches (vs. Tulsa & Memphis), our #1 doubles squad (senior Yasha Zemel and sophomore Kabeer Kapasi) took down the nation's 41st- and 34th-ranked doubles duos, respectively.

https://riceowls.com/news/2024/4/19/mens...over-tulsa
https://riceowls.com/news/2024/4/20/mens...to-memphis

So might they be ranked now?

Kabeer and Yasha were ranked 37th in the April 23rd rankings.

(04-27-2024 04:14 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  Kabeer and Yasha were ranked 37th in the April 23rd rankings.

Thanks!

https://colleges.wearecollegetennis.com/...2024-04-23

It looks like the NCAA's D1 Doubles Tournament starts with only 32 teams.

https://www.ncaa.com/_flysystem/public-s...lank_0.pdf

They've won their last seven completed doubles sets (and two others were abandoned).
https://colleges.wearecollegetennis.com/...a12bc46cdd

How likely might it be that Kabeer & Yasha get in?

Automatic qualification into the Division I doubles championship is awarded to any conference with one or more eligible doubles teams ranked in the ITA Top 60 for eligible/entered doubles teams. For conferences with more than one doubles team within the ITA Top 60 eligible/entered doubles teams, the subcommittee applies the NCAA selection criteria to determine which doubles team is the automatic qualifier from those conferences. All doubles teams must have started a minimum of 10 doubles matches, with a minimum of four matches in the spring, in order to be selected as an automatic qualifier or an at-large selection.

There is also an alternate list that is created if a team withdraws. If the withdrawing doubles team was selected by automatic qualification, the next eligible doubles team from that conference will be considered before substituting from the alternate list.

(04-27-2024 05:49 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  Automatic qualification into the Division I doubles championship is awarded to any conference with one or more eligible doubles teams ranked in the ITA Top 60 for eligible/entered doubles teams. For conferences with more than one doubles team within the ITA Top 60 eligible/entered doubles teams, the subcommittee applies the NCAA selection criteria to determine which doubles team is the automatic qualifier from those conferences. All doubles teams must have started a minimum of 10 doubles matches, with a minimum of four matches in the spring, in order to be selected as an automatic qualifier or an at-large selection.

There is also an alternate list that is created if a team withdraws. If the withdrawing doubles team was selected by automatic qualification, the next eligible doubles team from that conference will be considered before substituting from the alternate list.

SMU has the top spot in the conference with Allen/Neff (9-2) at #27, and Memphis is second with Alemany/Barry (20-10) at #30. It's possible the committee goes around those rankings to select Kapasi/Zemel, but I wouldn't bet on it. South Florida and Tulsa also have eligible doubles teams below us in the rankings.

(04-28-2024 06:30 AM)franklyconfused Wrote:  

(04-27-2024 05:49 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  Automatic qualification into the Division I doubles championship is awarded to any conference with one or more eligible doubles teams ranked in the ITA Top 60 for eligible/entered doubles teams. For conferences with more than one doubles team within the ITA Top 60 eligible/entered doubles teams, the subcommittee applies the NCAA selection criteria to determine which doubles team is the automatic qualifier from those conferences. All doubles teams must have started a minimum of 10 doubles matches, with a minimum of four matches in the spring, in order to be selected as an automatic qualifier or an at-large selection.

There is also an alternate list that is created if a team withdraws. If the withdrawing doubles team was selected by automatic qualification, the next eligible doubles team from that conference will be considered before substituting from the alternate list.

SMU has the top spot in the conference with Allen/Neff (9-2) at #27, and Memphis is second with Alemany/Barry (20-10) at #30. It's possible the committee goes around those rankings to select Kapasi/Zemel, but I wouldn't bet on it. South Florida and Tulsa also have eligible doubles teams below us in the rankings.

Yeah I think they'll end up on the alternate list and just got to see how many teams, if any, withdraw.