Rice University
UTSA
Women's Tennis Sweeps No. 61 UTSA
2/24/2024 3:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis
HOUSTON, Texas — Rice women's tennis maintained its perfect series record over in-state foe UTSA on Saturday at the George R. Brown Tennis Center, sweeping the 61st-ranked Roadrunners, 4-0. The Owls are now 25-0 all-time against UTSA.
Doubles: In the team's first win over a ranked opponent this season, the Owls grabbed control of the match from the opening serve. At the top spot in doubles play, graduate senior Chie Kezuka and senior Federica Trevisan claimed several break points en route to a 6-1 victory. In the race for the clinching point, freshmen Anushka Ashar and Divna Ratkovic reached the finish line first, recording a 6-2 win at the third position to clinch the doubles point. On court two, junior Saara Orav and sophomore Darya Schwartzman led 5-3 and serving with a 40-0 lead in the possibly final game before the match was left suspended.
Singles: Rice kept the pressure on heading to singles, claiming first-set victories at every position. Trevisan continued a strong day with a win at the first position, 6-1, 6-2, to begin the Owls' run of singles victories. Orav followed with a 6-3, 6-2 win at the fifth position to put Rice on the edge of victory. Ratkovic then earned the privilege of clinching the match, scoring a 7-5, 6-2 win at the third spot to complete the sweep. Elsewhere at the time the match was clinched, Kezuka led, 6-4, 4-3, at the fourth position and Ashar led, 6-3, 3-1, at the sixth position. At court two, Schwartzman held a 1-0 lead in the third set of her match.
Head coach Elizabeth Schmidt: "Yeah, it was a good solid team win. The team has been working really hard and continues to invest in the process, even when the final scoreboard hasn't been going our way. They've kept getting after it and putting everything on the line. I think you saw where it all came together today. I was just really proud of the team for each person taking care of business on their court and being in the fight on their court. And that transferred up and down the line."
Up Next: The Owls welcome another ranked opponent to Houston as Rice will face No. 12 San Diego on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 11 a.m. (CT) at the George R. Brown Tennis Center.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3,5
Players Mentioned
