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It was between Princeton, Harvard and Rice, but according to 17-year-old Texan Isamu Tachibana, it wasn't the proximity to home that led him to ultimately choose Rice over the Ivys.

"It wasn't that important to me, but it's a little part of it," says the New Braunfels, Texas resident. "I think it's good that my Mom gets to watch me play and that my family can come down to see me play. And I have some family in Houston, so I think it played a part in it, but it wasn't that much of a reason."

So what did tip the scales in Rice's favor?

"The academics and the tennis was the best choice for me, a really good fit for me. I love the coaches there - I think Coach (Ron) Smarr and Efe (Ustundag) are two great people and I think I can really develop as a person and achieve what I want to achieve going to Rice."