Houston, TX -- BYU lost only its second match of the year as they lost to 32nd-ranked Rice University 5-2 Friday.
"Rice is a good solid team from top to bottom," said head coach Brad Pearce. "I don't think we played a bad match, but we needed to play better to beat a team of this quality."
Cougars Shane LaPorte and Chip Hand would be the only Cougars on the day to win their singles matches. Hand, playing at the number four singles spot, defeated Rice's Jason Mok in 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. LaPorte, at the sixth singles spot, beat Honny Shin in a thrilling two set match 4-6,7-6(1-0). LaPorte is now 5-1 on the year with his only defeat coming against Kwinta of 2nd ranked UCLA.
The Cougars are 4-2 on the year. They continue to slug it out in their brutal schedule as they travel to Ft. Worth to take on the 16th ranked TCU Horned Frogs tomorrow.
No. 36 Rice 5, No. 59 BYU 2
Doubles
1. Searle/Harknett (RU) def. Lachuga/Roshan (BYU), 8-4
2. Haerle/Zivjinovic (RU) def. Ludlow/Kaufhold BYU), 8-3
3. Morita/Mok (RU) def. LaPorte/Sanchez (BYU), 8-4
Singles
1. Robert Searle (RU) def. Nima Roshan (BYU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Tony Haerle (RU) def. Jeff Das (BYU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Ben Harknett (RU) def. James Ludlow (BYU) 6-3, 6-7, 6-2
4. Chip Hand (BYU) def. Jason Mok (RU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
5. Ralph Knupfer (RU) def. Dominik Kaufhold (BYU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
6. Shane LaPorte (BYU) def. Hoony Shin (RU) 4-6, 7-6(1-0)