Rice University
Beazant vs. Lohan
Beazant's NCAA Run Ends in Sweet 16
5/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
by Chuck Pool (cpool@rice.edu)
Natalie Beazant's run through the 2015 NCAA Women's Singles Tennis Championship came to a sudden end as the senior dropped a 7-5, 6-1 decision to Miami's Sinead Lohan in the Sweet 16 round on Friday at the Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, Texas.
Beazant's momentum of her first two days seemed to carry over in the early play on Friday as she raced to a 3-0 lead in the first set before the match was delayed for 20 minutes because of a light rain shower. She held serve in the first game after the players returned extending the lead to 4-0 before the Hurricanes' freshman caught fire.
Lohan won five straight games before Beazant could briefly stem the tide with a hold to tie the set at 5-5. But Lohan resumed the attack by holding serve and then breaking Beazant to take the opener. In the second set, Beazant opened with a service break, but Lohan put any hopes of another memorable comeback to an end by winning six straight games to advance to Saturday's quarterfinals.
The loss closed the book on Beazant's stellar career at Rice in which she set school and C-USA records for wins in NCAA singles (6) while twice reaching the Sweet 16 and earning All-American honors in both 2013 and 2015. She was twice named C-USA Player of the Year and led the Owls to three consecutive C-USA titles.
"She's had one heck of a career and is one of the most decorated players in Rice history," said Rice head coach Elizabeth Schmidt. "I am just proud and honored to have the opportunity to coach her. She really helped turn our program around, not just with her play, but with her attitude, spirit and how she lives life. We are just grateful and proud to have the opportunity to have her at Rice."
Beazant joined Wendy Wood (1985-86) as the school's only two-time All-Americans in singles and finished her career ranked third in singles wins (116) and fourth in doubles wins (81). She was honored as Rice's top senior female student athlete when she was presented the Joyce Pounds Hardy Award last month.
"It's pretty much been one of the best experiences of my life," Beazant said. "I've been lucky to have the coaches and teams I've had over the last four years. I've had some great people around me the last four years. It's been an unbelievable experience to sum it up in a few words."
Players Mentioned
