Women's Tennis | 2/23/2018 6:30:00 PM

HOUSTON, Texas – Facing its second nationally-ranked team of the season, the Texas State women's tennis team suffered a 4-0 loss at No. 39-ranked Rice on Friday afternoon at the George R. Brown Tennis Center.
 
The Bobcats began the day dropping a pair of doubles matches as they surrendered the team doubles point. First, Rishona Israel-Lewis and Alex Jones fell by the score of 6-0 against No. 16-ranked Wendy Zhang and Lindsey Hodge in the top-seeded match. 
 
Joy Chia Ming Ming and Sofia Murcia-Rodriguez dropped a 6-2 decision against Fernanda Astete and Priya Miezgoda on the No. 3 court.
 
One of the bright spots for Texas State was the doubles play of Ana Perez and Julia Navajo-Melendez, who were leading 4-3 in their No. 2 match against Anna Bowtell and Preia Niezgoda when the contest was halted.
 
Freshman Rishona Israel-Lewis also had an early lead in her No. 3 singles match against Savannah Durkin after winning the first set by a score of 6-4. Durkin was leading 3-0 in the second set when the match was stopped.
 
The Bobcats dropped the first set in the other five matches and the Owls clinched the victory winning three matches in straight sets.
 
First, Julia Navajo-Melendez fell 6-1, 6-1 against Zhang on the No. 2 court, while Joy Chia Ming Ming dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision against Niezgoda on the No. 5 court. The final decision came in the No. 4 match where Alex Jones suffered a 6-3, 6-1 loss against Bowtell.
 
Texas State will look to get on the winning track this Sunday when the Bobcats travel to Huntsville for a match at Sam Houston State beginning at 11 a.m. at the McAdams Tennis Center.
 
The Bobcats enter Sunday's match with a 0-7 record following the loss at Rice.  Meanwhile, Sam Houston State has a 5-2 record after winning their last four matches against UTSA, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State and UTRGV.
 
Texas State vs Rice
Feb. 23, 2018 at Houston, Texas
(George R. Brown Tennis Center)
 
#39 Rice 4, Texas State 0
Singles
1. Lindsey Hodge (RICEW) vs. Ana Perez (TXST) 6-2, 5-1, unfinished
2. Wendy Zhang (RICEW) def. Julia Navajo-Melendez (TXST) 6-1, 6-1
3. Savannah Durkin (RICEW) vs. Rishona Israel-Lewis (TXST) 4-6, 3-0, unfinished
4. Anna Bowtell (RICEW) def. Alex Jones (TXST) 6-3, 6-1
5. Priya Niezgoda (RICEW) def. Joy Chia Ming Ming (TXST) 6-2, 6-1
6. Sofie Moenster (RICEW) vs. Sofia Murcia-Rodriguez (TXST) 6-0, 5-1, unfinished

Doubles
1. #16 Wendy Zhang/Lindsey Hodge (RICEW) def. Rishona Israel-Lewis/Alex Jones (TXST) 6-0
2. Anna Bowtell/Priya Niezgoda (RICEW) vs. Ana Perez/Julia Navajo-Melendez (TXST) 3-4, unfinished
3. Fernanda Astete/Savannah Durkin (RICEW) def. Joy Chia Ming Ming/Sofia Murcia-Rodriguez (TXST) 6-2