HOUSTON - Giorgia Pozzan battled back from deficits in both sets to upset Rice's number one singles player to give Sam Houston its only point in a 6-1 women's tennis dual match loss to the Owls Sunday afternoon.
Pozzan defeated Julie Chao 7-5 6-4 after trailing 5-1 in the first set and 4-1 in the second.
"This is big singles win for Giorgia," Sam Houston head coach Jim Giachino said. "She's our captain this year and she played with great determination to show she's our leader. Rice has an outstanding team that is improved over last season. This was a great experience for our younger players."
The loss evens Sam Houston 2010 dual match record at 1-1. Rice is 3-1 for the season. The Bearkats will play host to Abilene Christian Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the McAdams Tennis Center.
Pozzan and freshman Sheridan Currie paired to push Rice's number one doubles team, falling in the number one pro set 8-5.
Currie, Tatyana Postnikova, Nadia Dubyanskaya and Cally Woerner lost at number two through five singles.
Tennis Match Results - Sam Houston State vs Rice
1/31/2010 at Houston, Texas
Rice 6, Sam Houston State 1
Singles competition:
1. Giorgia Pozzan (SHSU) def. Julie Chao (RICE) 7-5, 6-4
2. Jessica Jackson (RICE) def. Sheridan Currie (SHSU) 6-2, 6-0
3. Ana Guzman (RICE) def. Tatyana Postnikova (SHSU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Rebecca Lin (RICE) def. Nadia Dubyanskaya (SHSU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Alex Rasch (RICE) def. Cally Woerner (SHSU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Daniella Trigo (RICE) def. No player (SHSU), by default
Doubles competition:
1. Alex Rasch/Jessica Jackson (RICE) def. Sheridan Currie/Giorgia Pozzan (SHSU) 8-5
2. Rebecca Lin/Rebekka Hänle (RICE) def. Tatyana Postnikova/Nadia Dubyanskaya (SHSU) 8-1
Match Notes:
Sam Houston State 1-1
Rice 3-1
