Rice University
Louisiana-Lafayette
Beazant's Milestone Win Highlights Owls 6-1 Win
2/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
The Rice women's tennis team snapped a six-match losing streak and senior Natalie Beazant became only the fourth Rice women's tennis player to reach 100 career wins in singles as the Owls downed Louisiana-Lafayette 6-1 at the George R. Brown Tennis Center on Sunday.
 | 1. Wendy Wood (1982-86; 147-36) 2. Tracie Blumentritt (1979-83: 123-36) 3. Susan Rudd (1980-84; 108-52) 4. Natalie Beazant (2012-15; 100-30) 100 Singles Wins |
Rice bolted out to an early lead by taking the doubles point thanks to wins on courts 1 & 3 and then moved into position to clinch the match with wins by Alison Ho and Solomiya Zinko, which set the stage for Beazant to apply the needed point while also reaching a personal milestone. Beazant raced to a 6-1, 6-2 win over Nelo Phir to join Wendy Wood, Tracie Blumentritt and Susan Rudd as the only women's tennis players to reach 100 wins in dual singles.
"It's definitely something that I am excited about," Beazant said. "I feel like I definitely owe it to Rice to come out here and do my best every day. I think it's definitely one of the reasons why I've got to 100 wins. It's not just about me, it's about the school."
"You can't put into words the significance of what Natalie did, getting 100 singles victories as a Rice Owl at the level that she's doing it. Day in and day out, she goes up against the best in the country at No. 1. I'm proud of her for all the wins but also for the way she's done it. She is just a fighter out there. She brings such a spark to the court. Everyone who comes to watch her knows what it's like. She enjoys the competition and she represents Rice in the right way, with class and fight on every point."
The Owls be back on the courts next Sunday when they travel to Baton Rouge to take on LSU.
Tennis Match Results
Louisiana vs Rice
2/15/2015 at Houston, TX
(George R. Brown Tennis Center)
#35 Rice 6, Louisiana 1
Singles competition
1. #35 Natalie Beazant (RICE) def. Phiri, Nelo (UL) 6-1, 6-2
2. Drew, Kelly (UL) def. Katherine Ip (RICE) 2-6, 6-4, 10-5
3. Lindsey Hodge (RICE) def. Sava, Elena (UL) 6-4, 6-1
4. Savannah Durkin (RICE) def. Way, Alexandra (UL) 6-1, 6-2
5. Alison Ho (RICE) def. Johnson, Abby (UL) 6-2, 6-2
6. Solomiya Zinko (RICE) def. Burckhartt, Melissa (UL) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Natalie Beazant/Katherine Ip (RICE) def. Phiri, Nelo/Drew, Kelly (UL) 6-1
2. Alison Ho/Lindsey Hodge (RICE) vs. Sava, Elena/Burckhartt, Melissa (UL) 5-3, unfinished
3. Savannah Durkin/Solomiya Zinko (RICE) def. Way, Alexandra/Johnson, Abby (UL) 6-3
Match Notes:
Louisiana 2-2
Rice 2-6; National ranking #35
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (4,5,1,6,3,2)
Official: 1:45
Players Mentioned
