Tennis: DiSesa, Searle Receive ITA Regional Arthur Ashe Awards

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Tennis: DiSesa, Searle Receive ITA Regional Arthur Ashe Awards

5/10/2005

HOUSTON ? Rice juniors Blair DiSesa and Robert Searle received the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's regional Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship, the ITA announced Tuesday.

The Arthur Ashe Award goes to a player who has exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.

DiSesa, who hails from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., was the winner for the Southwest Region. She finished the season ranked 100th in singles by the ITA with a 16-8 record playing at the top ladder position for the Owls. Previously this season, DiSesa also earned the Rice Scholar Athlete award for having her team's top grade point average.

A native of Orpington, England, Searle won the award for the ITA South Central Region. He has an 18-4 record at number one singles this spring and ranks 41st nationally. Additionally, Searle was named the Western Athletic Conference player of the year and received an at-large bid to the NCAA singles championships May 25-30.

This is the second-consecutive year for a member of the Rice men's team to be honored with the ITA/Arthur Ashe Award. Last year, William Barker took the regional honor, then went on to receive the national award.

The Rice men begin their quest for a return trip to the NCAA championship's round of 16 when they face Texas in the first round of team tournament play on Friday at 3 pm in Waco. A victory would send the Owls to a second round match against either top seed Baylor or Prairie View A&M on Saturday at 6 pm. The final 16 teams will then converge on College Station May 21-24 to vie for the national crown.

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Tennis: DiSesa, Searle Receive ITA Regional Arthur Ashe Awards

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