No. 29 Cougars Host Owls on Thursday

PROVO -- National rankings were released Tuesday and the BYU women's tennis team (7-4) surpassed its highest ranking of the season as it jumped from No. 32 to No. 29. The surging Cougars host the struggling Rice University Owls (3-8) Thursday at 11 a.m. at the BYU Indoor Tennis Courts.

BYU enters Thursday's match on a five-match roll with a 3-1 record at home this season. A tough schedule has taxed the Cougars and Rice will only the third team that is not ranked that BYU has played this season.

"We feel like we just keep getting stronger with each match," BYU head coach Craig Manning said. "We're starting to build confidence and momentum. Our performance keeps getting better and each match it is somebody else that steps up for us and pushes us over the hump."

The Owls, who faced Utah on Tuesday in Salt Lake, came to Utah in hopes of turning around their two-match skid. Rice had its day in the sun earlier in the season when it was ranked as high as No. 69, but has since dropped out of the national spotlight after losing to tough teams from LSU, San Diego State and TCU.

The match was originally scheduled for 4 p.m., but the time was moved to 11 a.m. to better accommodate both teams. Admission to the match is free and a free raffle will take place for all those in attendance. BYU student and faculty parking will not be available to the public, but parking is available on the roads adjacent to the facility and south of campus.