Clutch Effort Earns Orav C-USA Honor
3/22/2023 2:18:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Conference USA Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week presented by Blenders Eyewear
Saara Orav has been named the Conference USA Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week after her crucial effort in Rice's 4-3 win at No. 30 Charlotte on Sunday. The weekly awards are presented by Blenders Eyewear.
Orav battled back from being down 1-6, 4-5 to provide the clinching point in the win over the 49ers. She opened the day by teaming with Darya Schwartzman for a win at the third doubles line to answer a Charlotte win at two and set the stage for the Owls to take the crucial opening point with a win at the first line. In singles, she rallied to win the last three games of her second set to force a third and then with the marathon match tied 3-3, broke serve at 4-4 and then held her serve to give Rice its first win over a top 30 opponent since 2021.
The win moved the Owls (#53) into the ITA Division I Women's Team National Rankings sponsored by Tennis-Point for the first time this year.
She is the first Owl to win the women's weekly award this spring, Diae El Jardi won the monthly award in November. Orav is the first winner of the spring award since Maria Budin and El Jardi were honored last March.
Orav and the rest of the Owls will be back in competition this Sunday when they host #57 Brown at the George R. Brown Tennis Center at 11 a.m. as part of a combined match with the Rice men, who will face William & Mary.
Orav battled back from being down 1-6, 4-5 to provide the clinching point in the win over the 49ers. She opened the day by teaming with Darya Schwartzman for a win at the third doubles line to answer a Charlotte win at two and set the stage for the Owls to take the crucial opening point with a win at the first line. In singles, she rallied to win the last three games of her second set to force a third and then with the marathon match tied 3-3, broke serve at 4-4 and then held her serve to give Rice its first win over a top 30 opponent since 2021.
The win moved the Owls (#53) into the ITA Division I Women's Team National Rankings sponsored by Tennis-Point for the first time this year.
She is the first Owl to win the women's weekly award this spring, Diae El Jardi won the monthly award in November. Orav is the first winner of the spring award since Maria Budin and El Jardi were honored last March.
Orav and the rest of the Owls will be back in competition this Sunday when they host #57 Brown at the George R. Brown Tennis Center at 11 a.m. as part of a combined match with the Rice men, who will face William & Mary.
Players Mentioned
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