Rice University Athletics
Owls Advance Five in Rice Invite Singles
9/25/2026 11:02:00 PM | Women's Tennis
HOUSTON – Rice women's tennis opened the Rice Invitational on Friday at the George R. Brown Tennis Center.
The Owls secured five wins in singles and went undefeated in doubles to kick off the weekend. Francesca Maguina, Uma Bakaityte, Anushka Ashar, Daniela Chica and Josephine Kunz each advanced to the semifinals in their respective singles flights, while both doubles teams went 4-0 on the day.
Maguina, Bakaityte, Ashar and Chica each won in straight sets, while freshman Kunz picked up her first win as an Owl.
Rice will continue the tournament Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. The Owls will open with doubles play before following with singles competition.
Results
Singles
F1 Francesca Maguina (RICE) def. Anamaria Kurtsikashvili (SHSU) 6-1, 6-1
F2 Uma Bakaityte (RICE) def. Athina Girgoriadou (NWST) 6-2, 6-2
F3 Josephine Kunz (RICE) def. Lucie Gallegos (La Tech) 6-3, 6-1
F4 Laia Tarazona (UTSA) def. Fernanda Martinez (RICE) 6-2, 7-6(2)
F5 Anushka Ashar (RICE) def. Giuliana Giardina (UTSA) 6-2, 6-4
F6 Daniela Chica (RICE) def. Nina Skoric (La Tech) 7-5, 7-5
Doubles
F2 Josephine Kunz/Uma Bakaityte (RICE) def. Sara Savekova/Veronika Muzychenko (SHSU) 6-1
F2 Josephine Kunz/Uma Bakaityte (RICE) def. Carrington Brown/Brooklyn Olson (SMU) 6-2
F3 Daniela Chica/Anushka Ashar (RICE) def. Nico Tagami/Zala Vnuk (NWST) 6-1
F3 Daniela Chica/Anushka Ashar (RICE) def. Vladislava Razina/Alice Stevens (Houston) 6-1
Saturday Schedule
Singles
F1 Francesca Maguina vs Elena Mireles (SMU)
F2 Uma Bakaityte vs Carrington Brown (SMU)
F3 Josephine Kunz vs Whitley Pate (Tulane)
F4 Fernanda Martinez vs Maria Gajete (SHSU)
F5 Anushka Ashar vs Elisabeth Braathen (Tulane)
F6 Daniela Chica vs Ligaya Murray (Baylor)
Doubles
F2 Josephine Kunz/Uma Bakaityte vs Natalia Perez/Campbell Ricci (Tulane)
F3 Daniela Chica/Anushka Ashar vs Naralie Stasny/Sophie Llewelyn (SMU)
The Owls secured five wins in singles and went undefeated in doubles to kick off the weekend. Francesca Maguina, Uma Bakaityte, Anushka Ashar, Daniela Chica and Josephine Kunz each advanced to the semifinals in their respective singles flights, while both doubles teams went 4-0 on the day.
Maguina, Bakaityte, Ashar and Chica each won in straight sets, while freshman Kunz picked up her first win as an Owl.
Rice will continue the tournament Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. The Owls will open with doubles play before following with singles competition.
Results
Singles
F1 Francesca Maguina (RICE) def. Anamaria Kurtsikashvili (SHSU) 6-1, 6-1
F2 Uma Bakaityte (RICE) def. Athina Girgoriadou (NWST) 6-2, 6-2
F3 Josephine Kunz (RICE) def. Lucie Gallegos (La Tech) 6-3, 6-1
F4 Laia Tarazona (UTSA) def. Fernanda Martinez (RICE) 6-2, 7-6(2)
F5 Anushka Ashar (RICE) def. Giuliana Giardina (UTSA) 6-2, 6-4
F6 Daniela Chica (RICE) def. Nina Skoric (La Tech) 7-5, 7-5
Doubles
F2 Josephine Kunz/Uma Bakaityte (RICE) def. Sara Savekova/Veronika Muzychenko (SHSU) 6-1
F2 Josephine Kunz/Uma Bakaityte (RICE) def. Carrington Brown/Brooklyn Olson (SMU) 6-2
F3 Daniela Chica/Anushka Ashar (RICE) def. Nico Tagami/Zala Vnuk (NWST) 6-1
F3 Daniela Chica/Anushka Ashar (RICE) def. Vladislava Razina/Alice Stevens (Houston) 6-1
Saturday Schedule
Singles
F1 Francesca Maguina vs Elena Mireles (SMU)
F2 Uma Bakaityte vs Carrington Brown (SMU)
F3 Josephine Kunz vs Whitley Pate (Tulane)
F4 Fernanda Martinez vs Maria Gajete (SHSU)
F5 Anushka Ashar vs Elisabeth Braathen (Tulane)
F6 Daniela Chica vs Ligaya Murray (Baylor)
Doubles
F2 Josephine Kunz/Uma Bakaityte vs Natalia Perez/Campbell Ricci (Tulane)
F3 Daniela Chica/Anushka Ashar vs Naralie Stasny/Sophie Llewelyn (SMU)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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