Tuesday, January 25
Houston, Texas
2 PM
Rice University
vs
Lamar
Owls Ready for Return to Action
1/24/2022 3:24:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Lamar opens 21-match schedule
Rice vs. Lamar Live Video & Results
The Rice women's tennis team opens their 2022 dual season on Tuesday by hosting Lamar at 2 p.m. in the first of 21 matches designed to prepare the Owls for another run into the postseason.
Head coach Elizabeth Schmidt welcomes back a team with an abundance of experience along with several impactful newcomers looking to add another conference title and a 10th consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament to the program's list of accomplishments.
"I am always excited to get the dual season started,' Schmidt said. "The fall is great but I know our team always thrives in the dual environment because this is a tight-knit group that really enjoys playing together."
The 0wls return three seniors in Diae El Jardi, and Anastasia and Victoria Smirnova plus super senior Anna Bowtell as well as junior Maria Budin and sophomore Federica Trevisan. Rice finished 15-7 and extended the Owls' NCAA streak to nine, the longest streak for any Conference USA school in any team sport. Freshmen Saara Orav and Allison Zipoli joined the team for the fall tournament schedule.
Schmidt is excited about the makeup of the Owls.
"Anna has played a lot of matches as a Rice Owl and had a lot of success. We're excited to have her back out there this year. The Smirnova's have also played in a lot of big matches for us in their careers as well and with Diae and Maria we have a solid upperclassmen group. Obviously, Fedi had a great freshman year last year and is looking to build on that.
"The freshmen (Saara and Ally) bring a level of tennis but also an attitude and energy to the court that is infectious. It's a nice mix. Their transition to the college game has been seamless. They hit the ground running in the fall. I'm pleased with the trajectory of our team, but now it's time to get back out the dual competition court," she added.
This year's schedule features nine teams who were ranked in the final collegiate rankings, including four potential meetings with teams who were tabbed for this season's preseason top 25.
Rice will host preseason #21 LSU on February 20 and #11, Baylor, on March 2 and will travel to #14 Texas A&M on February 26. Should they defeat SMU (#45 in the final '21 rankings) in their opening round match of the ITA Kickoff this weekend in Austin, they likely will take on defending national champion and preseason #1 Texas in the second round.
"We've got a very high-quality schedule," Schmidt noted "After Lamar, we've got three ranked teams at the ITA Kickoff in Austin. We're going to be tested right off the bat, but that is how you improve and grow. We have four in the preseason top 25, but when you look at the end-of-year rankings from last season there are quite a few on the schedule. It might be a tougher schedule than in the last several years but we feel like we have some depth on this team to go see what we can do."
The Owls ended the 2021 season ranked 40th, joining ODU (#30), FIU (#38), FAU (#52), and Charlotte (#53) in representing Conference USA. Rice will face both FIU and Charlotte on the road this season during the regular season.
"I feel that C-USA has been getting stronger and stronger each year and that's great for everybody. I think schools are scheduling much tougher and that makes everybody better when we get to the conference tournament. There are no easy matches in the conference tournament. You have to be ready to go from the first day and locked in from Day One because of the quality of teams there."
The strength in C-USA helped earn the Owls a return to the NCAAs last season as a third entry from the conference after they fell to FIU in the quarterfinals.
"That's not the way you want to make it, but we obviously had some quality wins during the year and the depth of the conference helped us get in," Schmidt stated. "That's why it's so important for us to play a good schedule in the season so we'll be ready to play our best tennis come April and May."
The Rice women's tennis team opens their 2022 dual season on Tuesday by hosting Lamar at 2 p.m. in the first of 21 matches designed to prepare the Owls for another run into the postseason.
Head coach Elizabeth Schmidt welcomes back a team with an abundance of experience along with several impactful newcomers looking to add another conference title and a 10th consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament to the program's list of accomplishments.
"I am always excited to get the dual season started,' Schmidt said. "The fall is great but I know our team always thrives in the dual environment because this is a tight-knit group that really enjoys playing together."
The 0wls return three seniors in Diae El Jardi, and Anastasia and Victoria Smirnova plus super senior Anna Bowtell as well as junior Maria Budin and sophomore Federica Trevisan. Rice finished 15-7 and extended the Owls' NCAA streak to nine, the longest streak for any Conference USA school in any team sport. Freshmen Saara Orav and Allison Zipoli joined the team for the fall tournament schedule.
Schmidt is excited about the makeup of the Owls.
"Anna has played a lot of matches as a Rice Owl and had a lot of success. We're excited to have her back out there this year. The Smirnova's have also played in a lot of big matches for us in their careers as well and with Diae and Maria we have a solid upperclassmen group. Obviously, Fedi had a great freshman year last year and is looking to build on that.
"The freshmen (Saara and Ally) bring a level of tennis but also an attitude and energy to the court that is infectious. It's a nice mix. Their transition to the college game has been seamless. They hit the ground running in the fall. I'm pleased with the trajectory of our team, but now it's time to get back out the dual competition court," she added.
This year's schedule features nine teams who were ranked in the final collegiate rankings, including four potential meetings with teams who were tabbed for this season's preseason top 25.
Rice will host preseason #21 LSU on February 20 and #11, Baylor, on March 2 and will travel to #14 Texas A&M on February 26. Should they defeat SMU (#45 in the final '21 rankings) in their opening round match of the ITA Kickoff this weekend in Austin, they likely will take on defending national champion and preseason #1 Texas in the second round.
"We've got a very high-quality schedule," Schmidt noted "After Lamar, we've got three ranked teams at the ITA Kickoff in Austin. We're going to be tested right off the bat, but that is how you improve and grow. We have four in the preseason top 25, but when you look at the end-of-year rankings from last season there are quite a few on the schedule. It might be a tougher schedule than in the last several years but we feel like we have some depth on this team to go see what we can do."
The Owls ended the 2021 season ranked 40th, joining ODU (#30), FIU (#38), FAU (#52), and Charlotte (#53) in representing Conference USA. Rice will face both FIU and Charlotte on the road this season during the regular season.
"I feel that C-USA has been getting stronger and stronger each year and that's great for everybody. I think schools are scheduling much tougher and that makes everybody better when we get to the conference tournament. There are no easy matches in the conference tournament. You have to be ready to go from the first day and locked in from Day One because of the quality of teams there."
The strength in C-USA helped earn the Owls a return to the NCAAs last season as a third entry from the conference after they fell to FIU in the quarterfinals.
"That's not the way you want to make it, but we obviously had some quality wins during the year and the depth of the conference helped us get in," Schmidt stated. "That's why it's so important for us to play a good schedule in the season so we'll be ready to play our best tennis come April and May."
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Tennis
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/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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