HOUSTON – The Texas State women's tennis team will face one of its toughest challenges of the season when the Bobcats travel to Houston and play the No. 36-ranked Rice Owls at the George R. Brown Tennis Center on Saturday at noon.
 
Texas State enters the match with a 3-3 record this spring after winning three of their last four matches at the  Bobcat Tennis Complex. The first win during that stretch was a 5-2 victory over Incarnate Word on Feb. 14. Then, the Bobcats won their last two matches against UT Pan American and Northwestern State by 4-3 scores on Feb. 20 and 21. The Bobcats are looking to win their first match on the road after suffering losses at New Mexico State and Stephen F. Austin.
 
Seniors Monica Pieratt and Shannon Beckett have combined to post a 5-1 record in doubles play this season, while sophomore Eva Dench and junior Katy Collins own a 3-1 mark.
 
Collins has Texas State's best record in singles play with a 4-0 record as Texas State's No. 6 player. Eva Dench also has 3-3 mark on the No. 4 court. Ana Laura Gutierrez, Pippa Carr and Beckett all have two wins this season, while Pieratt owns one victory in No. 1 singles matches.
 
Rice is led by senior Natalie Beazant, who was named the Conference USA Player of the Week after posted a victory over No. 29-ranked Joana Vale Costa. Beazant is ranked No. 32 in singles and enters Saturday's match with a 6-1 record. Fans can follow Saturday's match via live stats by clicking here.