Rice University
Florida International
Smith Clinches Historic Fourth Title for Owls
4/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
By Chuck Pool (cpool@rice.edu)
Freshman Emily Smith roared back from an opening set defeat to provide the clinching point as the Rice women's tennis team became the first team to win four consecutive C-USA championships with a 4-1 over Florida International at the Adams Tennis Complex in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Rice (13-9) earned a fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament with the win as well as allowing senior Solomiya Zinko to extend her career while becoming the first women's tennis player in league history to win four rings.
In addition, they joined the Rice men in becoming the third school to sweep the C-USA titles in the same year, joining Tulane and Tulsa.
The win over the top-seeded Panthers was the Owls sixth in the last seven matches, a streak that came on the heels of a six-match losing streak that saw them drop from 29th to 64th in the national rankings. Rice head coach Elizabeth Schmidt said the seeds of this championship were sown in the way the team battled through that rough patch.
"I'm just really thrilled for our team right now because I know how hard they've worked every day and the growth they've had this whole year," Schmidt said. "It really all came together today and we played a really solid match from start to finish."
"This year we had to overcome a lot of adversity so I am just ecstatic to get the fourth one," Zinko said. "It feels amazing and shows that we are on the right track. Each year is a new challenge. Just because you won before doesn't mean you will win it again."
Smith and Katherine Ip keyed a strong effort in doubles as the Owls jumped out to an early lead. The duo, who is ranked 48th in the country, finished first with a quick 6-2 win. Zinko and Savannah Durkin then closed it out with a 6-3 win on court three.
Once singles began, the Owls again were led by the depth of their lineup as Durkin and Alison Ho each capped perfect weekends by picking up their third wins in singles. Zinko won her first set, but FIU took the first sets on the remaining three courts, including Smith on court three, and the clinching fourth point was proving elusive.
Smith shook off her opening set loss to even her match and while Zinko was in an extended battle in her second set, the freshman from Birmingham, England suddenly found herself in position to deliver the clinch.
"I didn't realize that Alison (Ho) had finished," Smith said. "(after winning) "I was getting ready to run over and watch everyone else and I saw everyone running towards me. When everyone was hugging me, I was close to tears it was so incredible. I didn't realize it was going to feel that good. Everyone had said it was amazing, but you can't really describe it."
As the newcomer to the C-USA Championship experience, Smith gave her teammates the credit for the chance to add another chapter to the story.
"On a certain level, the girls are saying let's go out and get this done, but it's never easy--never a given. This team works so hard and it shows at crunch time. I would not want to go to NCAA's with any other group of girls," she stated.
As for Zinko, she admitted the fourth title was just as sweet as the first, but she also knows that there is more tennis ahead.
"It's great to win today, but our season isn't over and now we have to prepare for the NCAA tournament."
Tennis Match Results
Rice vs FIU Panthers
4/24/2016 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
#45 Rice 4, #44 FIU Panthers 1
Singles competition
1. Maryna Veksler (FIU) def. Lindsey Hodge (RICE) 6-3, 6-2
2. Nina Nagode (FIU) vs. Katherine Ip (RICE) 6-3, 2-6, 2-2, unfinished
3. Emily Smith (RICE) def. Andrea Lazaro (FIU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
4. Savannah Durkin (RICE) def. Carlotta Orlando (FIU) 6-3, 6-1
5. Alison Ho (RICE) def. Nerma Caluk (FIU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Kaitlin Brozovich (FIU) vs. Solomiya Zinko (RICE) 3-6, 4-5, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Emily Smith/Katherine Ip (RICE) def. Maryna Veksler/Nina Nagode (FIU) 6-2
2. Carlotta Orlando/Andrea Lazaro (FIU) def. Lindsey Hodge/Alison Ho (RICE) 6-3
3. Savannah Durkin/Solomiya Zinko (RICE) def. Nerma Caluk/Kaitlin Brozovich (FIU) 6-3
Match Notes:
Rice 12-10; National ranking #45
FIU Panthers 18-2; National ranking #44
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,5,1,3)
Players Mentioned
