HOUSTON ? The ACU Wildcat women's tennis team gave the Division I Rice Owls all they could handle, but it was the Owls who escaped with a narrow 4-3 victory Friday afternoon at the Chancellor's Family Center near the campus of Rice.
ACU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as they won all three doubles matches in convincing fashion. The Wildcats only lost nine total games combined in all three of the matches in doubles play.
But the Owls turned the tide in singles competition as they won four of the six matches. The two singles winners for the Wildcats were junior Meagan Brown, who won at No. 4 singles, and freshman Dina Pavlin, who won at No. 6 singles.
The loss to Rice ? who are the defending Conference USA champions - drops ACU to 21-4 on the year.
Next up for the Wildcats is the Lone Star Conference Tournament, April 19-20 at Oklahoma City, Okla.
Abilene Christian University vs Rice University
Apr 13, 2007 at Houston, Texas
Rice University 4, Abilene Christian University 3
Singles competition
1. Julie Chao (RICE) def. Aina Rafolo (ACU) 7-5, 6-1
2. Tiffany Lee (RICE) def. Irene Squillaci (ACU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Dominique Karas (RICE) def. Holly Lindloff (ACU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Meagan Brown (ACU) def. Kimberley Patenaude (RICE) 6-4, 6-7, 7-4
5. Emily Braid (RICE) def. Lana Pavlin (ACU) 6-2, 0-6, 6-4
6. Dina Pavlin (ACU) def. Christine Dao (RICE) 4-6, 6-3, 10-4
Doubles competition
1. Aina Rafolo/Irene Squillaci (ACU) def. Julie Chao/Tiffany Lee (RICE) 8-3
2. Holly Lindloff/Lana Pavlin (ACU) def. Dominique Karas/Emily Braid (RICE) 8-4
3. Meagan Brown/Dina Pavlin (ACU) def. Kimberley Patenaude/Christine Dao (RICE) 8-2
Match Notes:
Abilene Christian University 21-4; National ranking #6; Regional ranking #1
