HOUSTON, Texas – Lamar University's originally scheduled home opener versus Rice was delayed due to the threat of freezing temperatures last week and then the match was moved to Houston serving as more of a home match for the Rice Owls. After all was said and done, the two teams stepped on the court late Friday evening at the Downtown Clubs at the Met. The Owls defeated Lamar, 4-0.
 
Due to the match being forced to an 8 p.m. start, the two teams elected to play a clinch-clinch contest halting three singles matches and only needing to play Nos. 1 and 2 doubles.
 
The Owls opened the night by taking the doubles point. Rice managed to hold the momentum as the two teams turned to singles competition. The Owls' Kabeer Kapasi gave Rice a 2-0 lead with his straight-sets victory at No. 4 singles. Kapasi defeated LU's Fabian Anthin, 6-0, 6-1. It became a 3-0 lead with Rice's win on court 2 singles.
 
The Owls closed out the match with a victory at No. 1 singles, but Petro Kuzmenok was pushed to the bring in the second set against Leon Nickel. After dropping a 6-0 decision, Nickel battled back in the second set and forced the frame into a tiebreak. Unfortunately, Kuzmenok edged out Nickel, 7-6 (8-6) in the second.
 
The Cardinals will finally open the home portion of their schedule Sunday when they host Lubbock Christian in a doubleheader. The first match will begin at 11 a.m. followed by the second at 4 p.m.