Rice University Athletics
Dao Earns Top 20 Regional Ranking
12/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Dec. 12, 2006
HOUSTON -- Rice women's tennis junior Christine Dao was ranked 17th in the ITA Southwest Region singles rankings as a quartet of Owls were listed in the top 30.
Dao had a tough fall season, but advanced to the round of 16 at the ITA regional championships in October after upsetting 11th-seeded Sarah Foster of Texas A&M.
Joining her in the rankings are freshman Julie Chao at No. 26, junior Tiffany Lee at No. 29, and freshman Rebecca Lin at No. 30.
Both Lee and Dao finished 2006 with 23 wins to help the Owls to their first conference title. Lee was solid this fall, recording eight wins and advancing to the round of 16 at the Midland Collegiate Invitational, where she lost to national preseason No. 46 Sylvia Kosakowski of Pepperdine.
The two newcomers, both from San Diego, Calif., had strong collegiate debuts in the fall. Chao advanced to the consolation semifinals of the ITA regional championships before getting edged by Texas A&M's Nicki Mechem 7-5, 4-6, 15-13. Lin lead the Owls with nine singles victories in the fall, including a 6-1 start to her career.
In doubles Lee and Chao were ranked 10th after advancing to the round of 16 at the regional championships where they lost of close 9-8 decision to Anna Blagodarova and Marisa Druss of Texas A&M.
The Owls open the 2007 dual season with a trip to Waco to take on Baylor on Jan. 20. The Bears, who finished 2006 ranked sixth, led the regional rankings with six players, all in the top 10. Rice returns home the next week to host Sam Houston State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Jan. 27 at the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium.
