May 23, 2006

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- At the 2006 NCAA championships, Rice senior Robert Searle will take on Oklahoma State's Daniel Byrnes in the singles opening round on Wednesday at 1 pm (CDT) in Palo Alto, Calif.

The pairings for the doubles has yet to be announced.

Searle ranks 28th nationally this year with his 27-11 overall mark and 16-6 record at the top spot. He was named to the all-Conference USA first team as the Owls went 19-8 overall and finished second at the C-USA tournament. This is Searle's fourth-consecutive appearance in the NCAA singles tournament. At the 2004 tournament, he upset top-seed Brian Wilson of Illinois in the opening round.

Byrnes, ranked 13th nationally, is one of the 9-16 seeds in the field of 64 with a 19-9 record and plays number one for the Cowboys. Searle and Byrnes faced off previously this season with Byrnes coming out on top in a 6-3, 6-4 decision.

The 2006 NCAA Men's and Women's Singles and Doubles Championships continue through Monday.