Rice University
Sam Houston
Women's Tennis Blanks Sam Houston, 4-0
3/5/2024 4:25:00 PM | Women's Tennis
HOUSTON, Texas — Rice women's tennis swept Sam Houston, 4-0, on Tuesday at the George R. Brown Tennis Center. The Owls are now 19-0 all-time against the Bearkats.
Doubles: The Owls took early control of the match in doubles play. Graduate senior Chie Kezuka and senior Federica Trevisan led the way with a 6-1 victory at the first position in the lineup. Junior Saara Orav and sophomore Darya Schwartzman followed shortly thereafter with a 6-2 win at the second position to clinch the opening point for Rice. At the third spot, freshmen Anushka Ashar and Divna Ratkovic also led, 5-4, at the time the point was clinched.
Singles: Rice maintained control heading to singles as a trio of straight-set victories clinched the match for the hosts. At court six, freshman Nithesa Selvaraj recorded her first career singles victory, 6-1, 6-1. Within seconds, Ratkovic pushed the Owls' lead to 3-0 with a 6-2, 6-0 win at the third position. With several Owls barreling towards a clinching point, Trevisan was the first to reach the finish line with a 6-1, 6-0 victory at the top spot in the lineup, clinching the match and Rice's second consecutive sweep. Kezuka had her match suspended at the fourth position while ahead, 6-2, 4-0, while Orav also led at the No. 5 spot after a 6-1 victory in the opening set. At the second position, Schwartzman rebounded from a dropped first set to build a 4-1 lead in the second set before the match was suspended.
Head coach Elizabeth Schmidt
On the team's overall performance
"Our team did a good job taking care of business. It was a quick turnaround from UNLV and completely different conditions here than it was out there. Obviously, it was our hottest day of the year so far and humid. It was good because this is how it's going to be from here on out for us. So I'm pleased with how the team took care of business and did what they needed to do and now we'll get ready for a great match against SMU at their place on Saturday."
On Nithesa Selvaraj's first career win
"It was great to see her get her first career win. She stepped in and didn't just get her first career win but the first one done in this match. She's been working hard and it was good to see her step up and get that win."
Up Next: With the win, Rice improved to 5-6 on the season heading into a tough road match against No. 39 SMU on Saturday, March 9, at 1 p.m. (CT) at the Altec Tennis Complex in Dallas.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
6,3,1
Players Mentioned
