Chao Receives C-USA Weekly Honor

4/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

April 3, 2007

HOUSTON -- After an undefeated weekend of singles, Rice freshman Julie Chao was named the Conference USA women's tennis player of the week, the league office announced Tuesday.

Chao was 2-0 at No. 1 singles and 1-1 at No. 1 doubles over the weekend as Rice hosted Texas-Pan American on Friday when traveled to No. 14 Texas A&M on Saturday.

Against the Broncs, Chao downed Giana Oliveira 7-5, 6-3 after she and partner Tiffany Lee clinched the doubles point by holding off Oliveira and Julia Cirne-Lima for an 8-6 decision. Chao then scored the Owls' lone victory against the Aggies with her 6-4, 6-3 triumph against Sarah Foster. Chao and Lee's upset bid was denied by the 42nd-ranked tandem of Foster and Tiffany Clifford, 8-7 (4). This is Chao's first career weekly honor.

Rice returns to action next Monday, hosting No. 22 Pepperdine at the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium at noon.