TABLE OF CONTENTS & QUICK FACTS THIS IS RICE 1-25 GENERAL INFORMATION Table of Contents & Quick Facts 1 Location Houston, Texas THIS IS RICE University Section 2-19 Enrollment 5,008 INTRO Administration/Athletics Department 20-24 Founded 1891 (First Classes in 1912) COACHES Conference USA 25 Nickname Owls Mascot Sammy the Owl OWLS INTRODUCTION 26-29 Colors Blue and Gray HISTORY Jake Hess Stadium 26 President David W. Leebron Rice Reunion Recap 27 Director of Athletics Chris Del Conte 2008 Outlook, Roster & Schedule 28-29 Faculty Representative Dr. James Castañeda Conference Conference USA COACHING STAFF 30-32 Began C-USA Competition 2005 Head Coach Roger White 30 Assistant Coach Kristina Kraszewski 31 TENNIS STAFF Volunteer Coach Mashona Washington 31 Head Coach (Alma Mater, Year) Roger White (Abilene Christian, 2003) Trainer Layne Schramm 32 Record at Rice (Seasons) 69-79 (6) Racquet Stringer Ken Mize 32 Career Record (Seasons) Same SID Matt Dunaway 32 Best Time for Interview Contact SID Assistant Head Coach (Alma Mater, Year) Kristina Kraszewski (Washington, 2001) MEET THE 2007-08 OWLS 33-39 Year at Rice 2nd Season Christine Dao 33 Volunteer Coach Mashona Washington Tiffany Lee 34 Year at Rice 2nd Season Emily Braid 35 Dominique Karas 36 TEAM INFORMATION Julie Chao 37 2006-07 Record 8-15 Rebecca Lin 38 2006-07 Conference USA Record (Finish) 0-2 (Seeded 10nd) Varsha Shiva-Shankar 39 2007 Conference USA Tournament Finish Semifinals (Marshall) Rebekka Hanle 39 2007 Postseason NA Jessica Jackson 39 Home 5-8 Away 1-5 SEASON REVIEW/HISTORY 40-48 Neutral 2-2 2006-07 Stats 40 Nationally Ranked 2-14 Series History & Results 41 Region 2-5 Athletic Honors 42-43 Letterwinners Returning/Lost 6/4 Academic Honors 44-45 Newcomers 2 2006 Conference USA Champions 46-47 All-Time Letterwinners 48 HOME COURT INFORMATION Name Jake Hess Tennis Stadium WWW.RICEOWLS.COM 1 JAKE HESS STADIUM aming a court at the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium is an unique and THIS IS RICE ne of the finest facilities in the southwest, the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium gives the Owls a definite home-court advantage. Located lasting way to demonstrate your support to the Rice University tennis INTRO O adjacent to Autry Court, the stadium was constructed in 1970. N programs. COACHES The stadium is named after Jake Hess, the major donor of the facility. Mr. There are only two courts available that have yet to be named at the Jake OWLS Hess, along with his younger brother Wilbur Hess, was one of Rice’s greatest Hess Tennis Stadium. HISTORY tennis players. He was the Owls’ first all-America player (1932). Wilbur was Each court donor will be honored with a permanent plaque on the court Rice’s first NCAA champion in tennis, winning the singles crown in 1935. bearing his or her name. Tax deductible donations may be made as a lump In addition to serving as home court for all Rice dual matches and tourna- sum bequest or installments over a 5-year period. ments, the stadium also was the site of the tennis competition at the 1986 Under the leadership of head coach Ron Smarr, the last 10 years have U.S. Olympic Festival, the 1990 and 1994 SWC Men’s and Women’s Tennis shown dramatic improvement and Rice has once again risen to the top of the Championships and the 1994 NCAA Men’s and 1997 NCAA Women’s regional Division I tennis ranks. But it is time to take this program to the next level, to championships. Rice also hosted the 2004 Western Athletic Conference Cham- bring home that NCAA team trophy that has eluded us on three occasions in pionships and 2006 Conference USA Championships at the stadium. the past. In 2004, the athletics department named center court of the Jake Hess Rice has always offered the best of both worlds to a student-athlete, an Tennis Stadium for former letterman and 1950 All-America Jack A. Turpin. At education that’s second to none and a tennis program that has a winning Rice, Turpin teamed with Chick Harris to win the 1950 Southwest Conference tradition. Times are changing; the face of a program has become critical in doubles championships before the pair went on to earn All-America distinction. recruiting talented student-athletes. Turpin continues to be a force in the sport of tennis at Rice and throughout the We appreciate your support and look forward to another exciting season of state of Texas. His dedication to the sport has led to the United States Tennis Rice tennis. Association - Texas Section honoring him with the W.T. Caswell Service Award in 1964. In 1989, Turpin was inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame. BENEFITS TO COURT NAMING AT JAKE HESS STADIUM In the first event on the newly named Jack Turpin Stadium Court, the Owls hosted the Western Athletic Conference men’s and women’s championships. • GIFT WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT TENNIS PROGRAM AS WELL AS CURRENT-USE The Rice men were triumphant, winning their first conference title since SCHOLARSHIP MONIES FOR THE TENNIS PROGRAM. 1972. Since then, Rice has named three more courts for former Owls: Ron Fisher • BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH MEMBERSHIP IN rICE ATHLETICS FUND, OUR (Court 1), Fredrik G. Gradin (Court 2) and Alberto Carrero (Court 4). UMBRELLA ATHLETIC FUNDRAISING ORGANIZATION. The 1,400-seat stadium features lighted courts, covered seating for specta- tors and a large scoreboard behind the center court. Under the direction of Rice • DONATION IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE. coaches and Rice Tennis Club director Roger White, the stadium has seen a number of renovations in recent years, including the addition of lights to allow • NAME ON THE COURT WITH NEW rICE ATHLETIC LOGO NEXT TO IT. for night play as well as a locker rooms for both the men’s and women’s teams in 2005. • HONORED WITH A PERMANENT PLAQUE BEARING HIS OR HER NAME. In 2002, Jake Hess Tennis Stadium experienced a face-lift as the original six courts were completely redone, additional covered bleachers and benches - ONLY $10,000 A YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS OR CAN BE LUMP SUM BEQUEST. were added, and all new windscreens and nets were installed. Two additional courts were built during 2003, expanding Rice’s abilities to - JUST TWO COURTS REMAIN SO ACT QUICKLY ON THIS UNIQUE AND host events. In 2006, the courts were resurfaced in blue, creating a new look EXCITING OPPORTUNITY. for the home team. 26 2007-08 RICE WOMEN’S TENNIS MEDIA GUIDE RICE TENNIS REUNION THIS IS RICE INTRO COACHES OWLS HISTORY WWW.RICEOWLS.COM 27 2008 OUTLOOK THIS IS RICE CHAO 2008 Roster INTRO Name Hits Ht. Cl.-Exp. Hometown COACHES Emily Braid L 5-9 Jr.-** Raleigh, N.C. OWLS Julie Chao R 5-6 So.-* San Diego, Calif. HISTORY Christine Dao R 5-7 Sr.-*** Northridge, Calif. Jessica Jackson R 5-6 Fr.-HS Solihull, England Rebekka Hanle R 5-8 Fr.-HS Ochsenhausen, Germany Dominique Karas R 5-8 RJr.-** Halifax, Nova Scotia - Canada Tiffany Lee R 5-7 Sr.-** Cupertino, Calif. Rebecca Lin R 5-3 So.-* San Diego, Calif. Varsha Shiva Shankar R 5-11 Fr.-HS Bangalore, India * - Indicates Letters Earned at Rice Chao was impressive during the fall season after tallying C-USA Fresh- man of the Year honors in 2007. The San Diego native went 7-3 and notched C-USA Player of the Month accolades during September after making the finals of the top singles flight of the 27th Annual Rice Classic in addition to a pair of prequalifying victories at the Riveria/ITA All-America. Karas saw action at three different positions in 2007 and utilized a strong finish to the fall season knocking off opponents from Texas A&M and Texas Tech at the ITA Southwest Regionals. She also paired with Chao to make the Round of 16 in doubles action before falling to a seeded he Rice women’s tennis team has all of the pieces in place to pair from LSU. bounce back from an 8-15 season and return to its 2006 C-USA “Julie and Dominique meshed well on the doubles court at the end of T championship form. the fall season,” White said. “We’re excited with what they’ll bring to the Head coach Roger White worked hard on the recruiting trail during the table as our No. 1 doubles team.” offseason to add a trio of talented freshmen from around the world to an Lee has earned All-Conference USA honors in back-to-back seasons already solid nucleus. and looks to make her senior campaign a memorable one. She already “We played an extremely challenging schedule last season,” White won the Flight 2 singles title at the San Diego State Fall Classic. Lee said. “I was impressed with how we finished and put together a strong logged doubles action with Lin and Dao during the fall season. run at the conference tournament. That gave us all of the momentum we Rebecca Lin, Emily Braid and Varsha Shiva-Shankar should all see needed and kept us hungry heading into the offseason.” action at the bottom of the ledger. Lin and Braid gained valuable match Julie Chao, Dominique Karas, and Tiffany Lee are projected to an- experience and look to take their game to the next level in 2008. chor the top of the singles lineup. Christine Dao also will see action to- Lin put together a 10-9 mark at the No. 5 position last season. In limited wards the top of the singles line when she returns from injury.