MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Thirty-fourth ranked Rice won the doubles point and got singles wins from three ranked players to defeat 60^th-ranked Middle Tennessee, 4-0, Saturday morning during play at the Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Ala.

The Owls won the doubles point to start the match behind the play of their top-ranked tandem, brothers Richard and William Barker. The Barkers defeated Daniel Klemetz and Brandon Allan, 8-3, at No. 1.

Rice's Konstantin Hearle and Robert Searle took care of Kirk Jackson and Anant Sitaram, 9-7, at No. 2 to give the Owls the point. Middle Tennessee's Trevor Short and Michael Staniak won 8-5 at No. 3 over Cody Jackson and Vuk Rajevac.

In singles 22^nd-ranked Searle won 6-2, 6-1, at No. 2 over Greg Pollack, and 30^th-rated Richard Barker defeated No. 12 Klemetz, 6-2, 6-3, at No. 1. The final point of the match came at No. 4, where No. 123 Hearle won 6-3, 7-6 (3) over Staniak.

The Blue Raiders were to take on Brown University Saturday night at 6 p.m. in Montgomery.

Middle Tennessee returns home March 21 to face Georgia State at 2 p.m. at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center.

#34 RICE 4, #60 MIDDLE TENNESSEE 0

SINGLES

1. (30) Richard Barker (RU) def. (12) Daniel Klemetz (MT), 6-2, 6-3

2. (22) Robert Searle (RU) def. Greg Pollack (MT), 6-2, 6-1

3. Kirk Jackson (MT) vs. (49) William Barker (RU), DNF

4. (123) Konstantin Haerle (RU) def. Michael Staniak (MT), 6-3, 7-6 (3)

5. Anant Sitaram (MT) vs. Cody Jackson (RU), DNF

6. Rishan Kuruppu (MT) vs. Vuk Rajevac (RU)

DOUBLES

1. Barker-Barker (RU) def. Klemetz-Brandon Allan (MT), 8-3

2. Haerle-Searle (RU) def. Jackson-Sitaram (MT), 9-7

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