For fourth time, Tulsa trounces Rice
If the University of Tulsa's men's tennis team parades out next year against Rice in red, white and blue jerseys, twirling basketballs and whistling a happy tune, don't be surprised. They're only filling the roles they've earned: That of the Harlem Globetrotters to the Owls' Washington Generals. But the Generals, the Globetrotters' longtime whipping boys, may have had it easier than the Owls. At least Washington's audience had the foresight to know Harlem was going to end on top. The Generals couldn't plead the proud naiveté that Rice has exhibited over the last four seasons, all of which have ended in defeats to Tulsa in the Conference USA finals.
Four seasons. Four wrenching, we'll-get-them-next-year tries. Four attempts at a C-USA championship squashed by the bottom of the 29th-ranked Golden Hurricane's soles, the most recent one a 4-1 crushing three weeks ago.
And the worst part? This was supposed to be Rice's year. The Owls may not have come in with the most glowing of records - at 17-9, they were only 35th in the nation - but they were coming off one of the most exhilarating matches the program had ever seen: a season-finale road win against No. 12 Texas A&M University, where all of Rice's points were notched by the team's three true freshmen.
That win had erased any questions about the team's talent as the C-USA Tournament commenced in Orlando, Fla. Rice swatted away the University of Alabama-Birmingham 4-0 in the first round. They then clashed with No. 68 Southern Methodist University, coming out on top of a 4-2 victory.
The conference finals were set, and it was the matchup everyone had come to expect.
Unfortunately for Rice, the end result was also what everyone had come to know.
The reasons for the blowout were obvious. Doubles betrayed the Owls, and for the fifth time this season Rice's tandems were swept.
The Golden Hurricane's main gun, top-ranked Arnau Brugues, continued his reign of domination over Rice with a 6-1, 7-5 win over No. 47 Bruno Rosa.
And the Owls' three freshmen, those who had been the saving grace against a superior Aggie squad, came out unusually flat and lost one or both of the matches they finished.
Another run to the finals, and another Tulsa blockade.
"There aren't really any excuses," says Garforth-Bles. "We just didn't play up to our potential. . I don't think anyone on our team really does take any satisfaction from getting to the finals."
There was one player who had a unique vantage point to the moment.
Christoph Müller, a senior, has been the lone Owl to see his team fall to the Golden Hurricane every single year. He has felt the elation of a postseason run every season, only to see it halted by the same team with the same faces and the same colors year in and year out.
"It was pretty frustrating, I have to say," says Müller of the loss. "It was frustrating to see the same picture, [see] the same team celebrating when you were always second."
Garforth-Bles, however, makes sure to point out that Müller isn't the only one feeling the pain.
"Losing to the same team, four years in a row, it's disappointing for all of us," he says. "Even though we hadn't played them all four years in a row . the freshmen felt just as disappointed."
Rice had a chance to redeem its season last week, having earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the seventh year in a row. Again, the Owls would be taking on familiar foes: The team was slated to face No. 28 Louisiana State University in the opening round in Baton Rouge, La. The two squads had squared off earlier this season, with Rice finishing a hair behind in a 4-3 road loss.
This time, however, the match wouldn't be quite so close. Despite having two weeks off, the Owls couldn't gain any traction against the Tigers. Doubles went quickly, and Rosa, Garforth-Bles and senior Toby Scheil all fell in singles as LSU sealed a 4-0 shutout.
The season is not yet over for some - Müller and Rosa both head to College Station, Tex. To compete in the Division I Men's Tennis Championships - but was once a season full of promise and aspirations has effectively come to a smoldering end, crashed and burned by familiar opponents.
Maybe the Generals can leave Rice some tickets out of sympathy.
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