Rice women's tennis clinched their first American Conference title with a 4-2 victory over Wichita State at the George R. Brown Tennis Center. The Owls rebounded from a doubles point loss to dominate in singles, securing an automatic NCAA postseason berth. Key performances came from Divna Ratkovic, who clinched the championship match, and Francesca Maguina, who also highlighted the team鈥檚 strength. Divna Ratkovic was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, reflecting her impact on the court. Coach Elizabeth Schmidt praised the team's gutsy performance, marking a significant achievement for Rice tennis.

By the Numbers
  • Rice secured the championship with a 4-2 match score.
  • Divna Ratkovic won the deciding match after a tightly contested three sets, finishing 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.
State of Play
  • Rice achieves its first conference title since 2019.
  • The Owls demonstrated resilience, not allowing a doubles point setback to affect their singles play.
What's Next

With this victory, Rice women's tennis moves forward to the NCAA postseason, where they will aim to build on this momentum and secure further advancements in the tournament.

Bottom Line

This championship win not only highlights the talent and determination of the Rice women's tennis team but also sets a promising stage for future competitions in the NCAA, underscoring the program's growth and ambition.