
Owls face Michigan in NCAA Opener
5/6/2021 11:10:00 AM | Women's Tennis
First serves at 10 a.m.
Baton Rouge: The 40th ranked Rice women's tennis team (15-6) makes its ninth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championship when the Owls face No. 20 Michigan (17-3) in the opening round of the LSU Regional at the LSU Tennis Complex at 10 a.m. Friday.
The Schedule: #40 Rice vs. #20 Michigan, 10 a.m.; #14 LSU vs. Boston University, 1 p.m.
Friday's winners will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday for the right to advance to the Sweet 16 in Orlando, Florida beginning May 16.
Live Video
Live Stats (Friday)
Michigan: The Wolverines are playing in their 19th consecutive NCAA championship and have advanced to the Sweet 16 eight times since 2010. They reached the Big Ten title match by defeating #17 Northwestern in the semifinals before falling to #16 Ohio State in the championship. This will be the first meeting between Rice and Michigan in women's tennis.
Big Ten: The Owls are 6-8 all-time vs. the Big Ten, winning their most recent match over Maryland in 2018 in the consolation round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend. They have faced a Big Ten opponent once in the NCAA Championship, defeating #18 Illinois in the first round of the Oxford Regional in 2012. That win was the Owls' first in NCAA competition. Rice went on to win the regional with a win over Ole Miss and advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.
In the Championship: This marks the 13th appearance overall for the Owls, who are 6-12 in NCAA Championship action. All six wins have come under head coach Elizabeth Schmidt (6-8). Schmidt has matched former men's coach Ron Smarr for the most wins in the NCAA Championship since the current format began in 1977. Smarr was 6-9 in 15 seasons (1998-2012). The Owls have won at least one match in five of their previous eight NCAA appearances under Schmidt, highlighted by a pair of wins in 2012 at the Oxford Regional to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.
LSU Tennis Complex: Rice is 1-3 all-time at the LSU Tennis Complex. The Owls defeated LSU in 2015 in their first appearance at the facility. They have fallen to the Tigers in the last three meetings, including a 4-0 loss earlier this season.
Career records in the NCAA Championship (Singles/Doubles)
Anna Bowtell (0-1/0-1)
Maria Budin (First appearance)
Michaela Haet (2-0/0-2)
Linda Huang (-/0-1)
Diae El Jardi (0-1/-)
Anastasia Smirnova (0-1/-)
Victoria Smirnova (1-0/0-1)
Federica Trevisan (First appearance)
Ranked Rice Players:
Singles: Federica Trevisan 92, Linda Huang 100,
For the most up-to-date information on Rice Tennis, follow the Owls on Twitter @RiceTennis or Instagram @ricewtennis or like Rice Women's Tennis on Facebook.
The Schedule: #40 Rice vs. #20 Michigan, 10 a.m.; #14 LSU vs. Boston University, 1 p.m.
Friday's winners will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday for the right to advance to the Sweet 16 in Orlando, Florida beginning May 16.
Live Video
Live Stats (Friday)
Michigan: The Wolverines are playing in their 19th consecutive NCAA championship and have advanced to the Sweet 16 eight times since 2010. They reached the Big Ten title match by defeating #17 Northwestern in the semifinals before falling to #16 Ohio State in the championship. This will be the first meeting between Rice and Michigan in women's tennis.
Big Ten: The Owls are 6-8 all-time vs. the Big Ten, winning their most recent match over Maryland in 2018 in the consolation round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend. They have faced a Big Ten opponent once in the NCAA Championship, defeating #18 Illinois in the first round of the Oxford Regional in 2012. That win was the Owls' first in NCAA competition. Rice went on to win the regional with a win over Ole Miss and advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.
In the Championship: This marks the 13th appearance overall for the Owls, who are 6-12 in NCAA Championship action. All six wins have come under head coach Elizabeth Schmidt (6-8). Schmidt has matched former men's coach Ron Smarr for the most wins in the NCAA Championship since the current format began in 1977. Smarr was 6-9 in 15 seasons (1998-2012). The Owls have won at least one match in five of their previous eight NCAA appearances under Schmidt, highlighted by a pair of wins in 2012 at the Oxford Regional to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.
LSU Tennis Complex: Rice is 1-3 all-time at the LSU Tennis Complex. The Owls defeated LSU in 2015 in their first appearance at the facility. They have fallen to the Tigers in the last three meetings, including a 4-0 loss earlier this season.
Career records in the NCAA Championship (Singles/Doubles)
Anna Bowtell (0-1/0-1)
Maria Budin (First appearance)
Michaela Haet (2-0/0-2)
Linda Huang (-/0-1)
Diae El Jardi (0-1/-)
Anastasia Smirnova (0-1/-)
Victoria Smirnova (1-0/0-1)
Federica Trevisan (First appearance)
Ranked Rice Players:
Singles: Federica Trevisan 92, Linda Huang 100,
Owls Notables:
- Rice's streak of nine appearances in the NCAA Championship is the longest active streak for any Conference USA school in any team sport. Women's tennis is the third Owls team to advance to the NCAA tournament this semester, joining volleyball and soccer. In addition, the Rice women's basketball team won the WNIT postseason tournament. Individually, freshman Grace Forbes has already earned All-American honors in two NCAA events this semester (indoor track and cross country) and will look to add a third in May at the outdoor championships.
- Four members of the Owls captured C-USA's Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week honors this season: Federica Trevisan (Jan. 10), Maria Budin (Feb. 10), Diae El Jardi (March 3), Anna Bowtell (April 21). In addition, Linda Huang won the monthly award in October during the shortened tournament season.
- Rice is 14-7 so far this year in the doubles point (14-0 when winning the point)… Rice registered its first win when dropping the doubles point in 12 matches when the Owls stormed back to defeat Wichita State on February 26.
- Budin and El Jardi are 13-5 at the first doubles line, the best mark by an Owls first doubles team since Natalie Beazant and Dominique Harmath were 20-6 in 2013.
- Trevisan (14-2) leads the Owls in dual singles wins and has won 13 of her last 14 decisions.
- Bowtell has reached double figures in dual singles for the fourth consecutive dual season (11-5) which includes a 10-1mark in the shortened 2020 campaign. She has a combined singles record in tournaments and duals of 77-27 and is 10 wins from matching Elle Lewis (87-64) for 10th on the Owls career chart.
- Clinch points: Trevisan (5), Bowtell (4), Diae El Jardi (3), Michaela Haet (2) Maria Budin (1).
For the most up-to-date information on Rice Tennis, follow the Owls on Twitter @RiceTennis or Instagram @ricewtennis or like Rice Women's Tennis on Facebook.
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