The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Rice Invitational
Women's Tennis Preview: Rice Invitational
09.22.2016 | Women's Tennis
Longhorns open fall tournament play this weekend in Houston.
WHAT: Texas opens its 2016 fall campaign this weekend at the Rice Invitational in Houston. The event features players from 17 schools competing in 16 singles and doubles flights.
WHEN/WHERE
Rice Invitational
Friday, Sept. 23 through Sunday, Sept. 25 (all day)
George R. Brown Tennis Center – Houston, Texas
Texas Players: Petra Granic, Neda Koprcina, Dani Wagland, Chelsea Crovetti, Madison Cleff
Participating Schools: Rice (host), Texas, Auburn, Denver, TCU, UTSA, Alabama, McNeese State, Texas State, Southern Mississippi, SMU, UT Arlington, Tulane, Northwestern State, Houston, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Sam Houston State
First Round Matches (Friday)
Flight 1A Singles
Neda Koprcina (UT) vs. Taylor Russo (Auburn)
Flight 1B Singles
Dani Wagland (UT) vs. Giovanna Fioretti (McNeese State)
Flight 2A Singles
Petra Granic (UT) vs. Jessica Birowski (UT Arlington)
Flight 3B Singles
Chelsea Crovetti (UT) vs. Cerdan (UT Arlington)
Flight 5B Singles
Madison Cleff (UT) vs. Ammarah Tim (Texas State)
Flight 1A Doubles
Wagland/Granic (UT) vs. Valero/Pothoff (Alabama)
Flight 2B Doubles
Cleff/Crovetti (UT) vs. Madronal/Menon (UTSA)
ITA PRESEASON NATIONAL RANKINGS (Texas players)
Singles
82. Neda Koprcina
113. Dani Wagland
MORE ON THE LONGHORNS
Second-year Texas head coach Howard Joffe returns five veterans from the 2015-16 squad that reached the round of 16 (third round) at the NCAA Championships and ranked No. 20 in the final ITA team poll.
All-Big 12 senior Neda Koprcina totaled a 21-2 dual-match record – including a 14-1 mark at No. 2 singles – last season as a junior. Koprcina clinched the Longhorns' 4-2 upset win at ninth-seeded Duke in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Championships. She brings a No. 82 national ranking into the fall tournament season.
Junior Dani Wagland posted 12 dual-match wins last season including a team-best eight wins at No. 3 singles. Katie Poluta joined the Longhorns last season from South Africa and totaled a 12-8 dual-match record. Her classmate Daniella Roldan added eight dual-match singles wins, and Chelsea Crovetti chipped in three singles victories.
UT welcomes four newcomers in the form of Anna and Bianca Turati of Italy, Petra Granic of Croatia and Madison Cleff of Colleyville, Texas.
Players Mentioned
