Owls Ink Pair of Californians
12/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Dec. 20, 2005
HOUSTON - The Rice women's tennis program signed top 25 prospects Julie Chao and Rebecca Lin, both of California, to national letters of intent for fall 2006, head coach Roger White announced Tuesday.
The pair both hail from San Diego, Calif., with Chao set to graduate from Westview High School and Lin from Torrey Pines High School next spring.
"I am ecstatic with the additions of Rebecca and Julie," said White. "These girls are two of the top players in the country and have the talent to be big time college players. Both of these ladies bring a work ethic and drive beyond their years of experience and are committed to making Rice University a top-10 program. We are truly blessed to have signed them. A lot of the credit goes to the special group of girls we have on the team right now. "
The 2005-06 Owls are on break right now for the holidays after a successful fall season. They open the dual-match season on Jan. 21 with a double-header against Lamar and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium.
2006 Signee Bios
Julie Chao
San Diego, Calif. (Westview High School)
• Ranks 52nd nationally in the USTA Girls 18 standings
• Ranked in the top 25 USTA Girls 16 standings
• Player of the year for San Diego, 2004
• Received the Southern California Sportsmanship Award, 2002
• Member of the California Scholastic Federation and LEO club
Coach White said: "Julie is a shot maker; aggressive, tenacious and determined on the court. She will dictate play from the start of the point and will never miss an opportunity to take advantage of her opponent. Julie is a tremendous student-athlete and has a great understanding of what it takes to make a team. A strong forehand and special sense of when to follow it up with other tactics will put the match in her hands every time."
Rebecca Lin
San Diego, Calif. (Torrey Pines High School)
• Ranks 41st nationally in the USTA Girls 18 standings
• CIF-San Diego Division singles champion as a sophomore and junior
• CIF-San Diego Division doubles finalist as a freshman
• Named San Diego Union-Tribune academic captain for tennis
• Member of the Youth Tennis San Diego Junior Player Council and vice president of Tennis Outreach
Coach White said: "Rebecca brings a tremendous amount of athletic skill and simply put is one of the best thinkers I have seen come out of U.S. junior tennis in a long time. She is a truly gifted student-athlete and a gifted leader. An outstanding sense of how to put points together and tremendous foot speed will give her the advantage every time she steps on the court."
