Men’s Tennis 7-4 leading up to conference matches
The Rice men’s tennis team is midway through their season, ranked No. 65 according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association with a record of 7-4. The team is back in Houston with three upcoming matches at home after spending the weekend in La Jolla, California for the Pacific Coast Doubles Championship.
The Owls opened the season with a 3-0 record at home, earning wins against Prairie View A&M University and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. However, the competition intensified with road matches against No. 1 University of Texas, the University of Arkansas and Baylor University, all three of which they lost.
“We knew those matches would be tough,” said head men’s tennis coach Efe Ustundag. “The goal was to push ourselves against some of the best teams in the country and learn from the experience. I think we did that.”
The Owls found their rhythm back at home, securing key wins over Louisiana State University, Texas Tech University and Lamar University. The 4-3 win over LSU stood out as a defining moment of the season, not just for the team but for senior tennis player Arthus de la Bassetiere personally.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had more fun in a match,” de la Bassetiere said. “The atmosphere, the energy — it was unreal. It felt like every single point mattered, and the crowd was behind us the entire time.”
Despite losing his singles match, de la Bassetiere said the environment made it one of the most memorable moments of his career.
“That was probably one of the best college tennis environments I’ve seen at Rice,” Ustundag said. “The players fed off the energy, and it showed in their performances.”
The intensity of the LSU match created a competitive edge that has helped fuel the Owls throughout the season, de la Bassetiere said.
“That match was a battle,” de la Bassetiere said. “We were fighting on every court. The way we supported each other, the way the crowd got into it, it felt like a real college sports moment. It reminded us why we play, and it gave us the confidence to push forward.”
Despite these wins, Ustundag identified doubles play as an area for growth.
“We’ve had strong doubles teams in the past,” Ustundag said. “We need to keep refining that part of our game to make sure we maximize our chances in every match.”
As a senior and captain, de la Bassetiere plays a key role in leading the team, both on and off the court. His focus is on setting the right example for his teammates.
“As a captain, I want to leave everything out there this season,” de la Bassetiere said. “This is my last year playing college tennis, and I want to make it count. Whether it’s singles, doubles or just being there for my teammates, I want to contribute in every way possible.”
His leadership has extended beyond matches, emphasizing the importance of preparation and mental toughness.
“I always tell the guys that how we practice is how we play,” de la Bassetiere said. “We need to bring intensity every day so that when we step on the court for a match, we’re already prepared.”
The Owls will face three ranked opponents this month: No. 15 Texas A&M University, No. 56 University of Tulsa and No. 53 University of Memphis. Then, from April 17-20 the team will compete in the American Athletic Conference Championships in Memphis, Tennessee.
Before those matchups, the Owls will host Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi March 6 at the George R. Brown Tennis Center.
“We’re focused on every match in front of us,” de la Bassetiere said. “[A&M] Corpus Christi is another opportunity for us to build momentum, and we’re ready to bring the energy.”
The competition between now and April is what Ustundag called a “critical stretch”.
“Texas A&M will be a big test,” he said. “And then we shift focus to conference play. Every match is important.”
During this stretch, the team is looking forward to playing Texas A&M according to de la Bassetiere.
“Playing [Texas A&M in] College Station will be tough, and then we have Tulsa and Memphis, two strong conference opponents,” de la Bassetiere said. “These are the types of matches that prepare us for the postseason.”
As the season progresses, the men’s tennis team continues refining its doubles play and maintaining consistency across the lineup in preparation for the conference tournament. For de la Bassetiere, the goal remains simple.
“We want to compete at the highest level,” he said. “Every match, every practice is an opportunity to get better. That’s our mindset going forward.”
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