INTRODUCTION GENERAL INFORMATION Table of Contents & Quick Facts ...............................................................1 Location ............................................................................... Houston, Texas Mission Statement .......................................................................................2 Enrollment ..............................................................................................5,145 Conference USA...........................................................................................2008-09 RICE MEN’S3 TENNISFounded ............................................................ MEDIA GUIDE 1891 (First classes in 1912) Jake Hess Tennis Stadium .........................................................................4 Nickname ...............................................................................................Owls Schedule........................................................................................................5 Mascot .................................................................................Sammy the Owl Outlook ...........................................................................................................6 Colors ..................................................................................... Blue and Gray Frank Guernsey Captain Award .................................................................7 President .........................................................................David W. Leebron Roster .............................................................................................................8 Director of Athletics ..........................................................Chris Del Conte Conference........................................................................Conference USA RICE UNIVERSITY Member Since ..................................................................................2005 Athletic Heritage ........................................................................................10 2007-08 Year in Review ..............................................................................12 TENNIS STAFF Rice Traditions ............................................................................................14 Head Coach..................................................................................Ron Smarr Rice University............................................................................................16 Record at Rice (11 seasons) ..................................................... 193-105 College Life..................................................................................................20 Career Record (38 seasons) ..................................................... 807-394 Academics Excellence and Athletics .....................................................22 Best Time for Interview ..................................................... Contact SID Rice and the City of Houston ....................................................................24 Assitant Head Coach .............................................................Efe Ustundag Year at Rice .........................................................................Fifth Season COACHES Head Coach Ron Smarr.............................................................................26 TEAM INFORMATION Assistant Coach Efe Ustundag ................................................................27 2007-08 Record ....................................................................................... 17-9 Volunteer Assistant Coach Dwight Edwards ........................................28 2007-08 Conference USA Record .......................................................... 2-3 Support Staff ...............................................................................................28 2008 Conference USA Tournament Finish .............................Lost in Final 2008 Postseason............................................................NCAA Round of 32 2008-09 RICE OWLS Final ITA Ranking ........................................................................................22 Christoph Müller.........................................................................................30 Home .......................................................................................................... 8-4 Dennis Polyakov .........................................................................................31 Away .......................................................................................................... 7-4 Vishnu Rajam ..............................................................................................32 Neutral ....................................................................................................... 2-1 Bruno Rosa..................................................................................................33 vs. Nationally Ranked Opponents ....................................................... 13-8 Tobias Scheil ...............................................................................................34 Letterwinners Returning/Lost .................................................................6/3 Chong Wang ...............................................................................................35 Newcomers...................................................................................................4 Sam Garforth-Bles .....................................................................................36 Christian Saravia ........................................................................................36 FACILITY Isamu Tachibana ........................................................................................37 Home Court ......................................................Jake Hess Tennis Stadium Andy Wang ..................................................................................................37 Capacity ............................................................................................1,400 Rice Tennis Reunion ..................................................................................38 HISTORY 2007-08 Stats ...............................................................................................40 All-Time Series ...........................................................................................41 Athletic Honors...........................................................................................42 Academic Honors ......................................................................................46 All-Time Letterwinners ..............................................................................48 1 R MissionRICE of Rice OWLS Athletics • In support of the educational mission of Rice University. • Our mission is to guide and support Rice students in the pursuit of excellence – academically, athletically, and socially. • Above all else, we produce difference-makers. Guiding Principles of Rice Athletics Five principles guide and govern our actions at all times and in our affairs. They define “what we stand for” and “what we won’t stand for.” They include: 1. Respect We treat ourselves and those we serve with dignity, kindness, and respect. 2. Positive Attitude We are forward-thinking. We approach our challenges and opportunities with a positive attitude. We enjoy what we do. 3. Focus We are focused on prioritizing and completing what’s most important. We have a strong work ethic. 4. Accountability We set clear performance standards and are personally accountable for our actions. We know that we are an important part of a great team. 5. Continuous Improvement We are always looking for innovative and efficient ways to get things accomplished. 2 2008-09 RICE MEN’S TENNIS GUIDE CONFERENCE USA Welcome to Conference USA, home to 12 na- SUCCESS OFF THE FIELD tionally prominent, tradition-rich members in C-USA institutionsRICE are OWLSamong the nation’s best East Carolina, Houston, Marshall, Memphis, in academic performance among student-ath- Rice, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, letes, bolstered by the fact that student-athletes UCF and UTEP. This combination enhances at league schools have a higher graduation rate men’s and women’s programs that are steeped than the general student population. in athletic success and academic prowess. To- gether, we are committed to excellence, integ- Among C-USA’s 5,000 student-athletes, there rity and leadership in athletics, academics and are champions off the playing field as well. In in our communities. Dedication to excellence is 12 years, 105 student-athletes earned national a common thread for C-USA and the guiding ini- ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America tiative for the league’s promising future. honors, while 338 were named All-District. In addition, more than 13,000 student-athletes All C-USA institutions sponsor Division I-A foot- have been named to the Commissioner’s Honor ball, along with several other men’s and wom- Roll or received the Commissioner’s Academic en’s athletic programs, many of which compete Medal, indicative of outstanding achievement regularly for NCAA Championships. C-USA in the classroom. sponsors competition in 19 sports — nine for Conference USA Commissioner Birtton Banowsky men (baseball, basketball, cross country, foot- C-USA IN THE COMMUNITY ball, golf, soccer, tennis and indoor and outdoor The conference’s footprint is concentrated with The Presidents of the member institutions