Rao Honored by UAA

(ROCHESTER, N.Y.) – Carnegie Mellon University senior Vinaya Rao (Vernon Hills, Ill. / Adlai E. Stevenson) was named University Athletic Association (UAA) Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week for her performance during the Tartans spring trip to Orlando, Florida, during the week of March 2 through March 8. She was perfect through the five matches during the week with a mark of 3-0 in singles and 4-0 in doubles play.

Rao started the trip with a straight set win over the second singles player from Cardinal Stritch University after teaming with Lindy Cornwall (Poway, Calif. / Poway) for a 6-4 win at second doubles. In Rao's next singles match on the trip, she played one singles and topped Megan Quandt of Division II University of Sioux Falls in straight sets. Rao and Caldwell won their next match by the score of 6-0 at the top spot over Division II University of Mary.

The senior then posted another shutout win at second doubles over the tandem from McMurry University, as she teamed with Bin Zheng (Miami, Fla. / Doral Academy). Rao closed the week with a pair of wins, playing second in singles and doubles, over 13th-ranked Kenyon College. Her and Cornwall started the match with an 8-3 win over Anna Winslow and Ilana Blackwood before the senior topped Daria Beshentseva 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (9).

The Tartans finish the shorten season currently ranked fifth in Division III and with an overall record of 15-3.