March 24, 2001

HOUSTON - The Santa Clara men's tennis team defeated East Carolina 5-2 in the opening match of the Rice Invitational, held this afternoon at the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium on host Rice University's campus.

Sophomore Rick Ruso clinched the match with a three-set victory over ECU's Dustin Hall.

Santa Clara remains at the Rice Invitational, taking on West Virginia tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. before closing the tournament against host Rice, ranked 49th nationally, on Monday at 1 p.m.

Results
Santa Clara 5, East Carolina 2

Singles
1. Ryan Livesay (SCU) def. Brad Sullivan (ECU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Michael Duong (SCU) def. Charl Meyer (ECU) 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3
3. Julien Crevelier (ECU) def. Victor Camargo (SCU) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
4. Federico Mattioli (SCU) def. Alexandre Girard (ECU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Erich Chen (SCU) def. Oliver Thalen (ECU) 3-6, 2-6, 6-4
6. Rick Ruso (SCU) def. Dustin Hall (ECU) 6-1, 6-7, 7-6

Doubles
1. Meyer/Crevelier (ECU) def. Bruggemann/Livesay (SCU) 8-5
2. Adam Lewis/Chen (SCU) vs. Jonathan Walton/Hall (ECU) suspended
3. Sullivan/Thalen (ECU) def. Camargo/Duong (SCU) 8-5