2016-17 Women's Tennis Roster
Pierson, Rachel
Rachel Pierson
- Height:
- 6-1
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Princeton, N.J.
Bio
PIERSON’S HONORS/HIGHLIGHTS
2016-17 (at Texas A&M)
2015-16 (at Texas A&M)
2014-15 (at Texas A&M)
2013-14 (at Virginia)
AT TEXAS A&M
2016-17 (SENIOR)
The ITA Texas Region Senior Player of the Year is the first player in Texas A&M history to earn All-America honors in both singles and doubles…Also is the first in program history, along with partner Rutuja Bhosale, to earn All-America accolades in doubles and is the first pair in A&M history to be seeded in the NCAA Doubles Championship after receiving a No. 5-8 seed in the 32-team field…Garnered All-America honors in singles after receiving a No. 9-16 seed in at the NCAA Singles Championship…The pair set the all-time Texas A&M high with a No. 4 doubles ranking on April 11…Also broke the school record for highest final doubles ranking, finishing the season No. 9 with Bhosale, shattering the previous record of No. 15 which Pierson set in 2015 with then-partner Eva Paalma…Pierson and Bhosale finished No. 1 in final ITA Texas Region doubles rankings, only the second time an A&M duo has finished No. 1 in the region…They were only the third doubles team in A&M history to ever reach the NCAA Doubles Championship round of 16 and came up just short of becoming the program’s first duo to reach the quarterfinals after falling to 16th-ranked Ryann Foster and Joana Valle Costa of LSU, 6-4, 3-6, 10-6…Pierson was second on the team with a 27-12 overall doubles record, going 26-12 with Bhosale…Went 15-9 in dual matches, all at the No. 1 line and played all but one match with Bhosale…The pair went 8-10 against ranked opponents, including a season-high 6-2 victory over then-No. 8 Alizee Michaud and Taylor Russo of Auburn on March 17…Led A&M in singles victories, going 26-16 overall, 16-12 in dual matches only and all at the No. 1 line, 10-4 in tournament matches, 7-5 in SEC matches and 11-14 against ranked opponents…Recorded singles wins in A&M’s victories over No. 2 Georgia, No. 5 Auburn, No. 10 Duke and No. 11 Kentucky and also earned a point against No. 3 Pepperdine and No. 7 Vanderbilt…Named the SEC Player of the Week on April 12 following a straight-set victory over 2017 SEC Player of the Year and then-No. 4 Astra Sharma of Vanderbilt, marking Pierson’s highest ranked win of her career…Closed out the SEC regular season riding a five-match winning streak...Competed in the NCAA Singles Championship for the second time in her career but fell to 70th-ranked Petra Melounova of Hawaii in the first round…After being listed No. 91 and No. 85 in the ITA preseason fall and spring singles rankings, respectively, was No. 23 in the final singles rankings in May, marking the highest final ranking of her career…Received an overall career-high No. 16 singles ranking on May 4…Was No. 3 in the ITA Texas Region final singles rankings…Selected to the All-SEC first team for the second time in her career…Named to the Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll for a third consecutive year.
2016 FALL RESULTS: Led Texas A&M in singles victories with a 10-3 record, including a 4-2 mark against ranked opponents…Won three consecutive matches to advance out of the pre-qualifying singles at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships before falling in the first round of the qualifying singles draw…Reached the singles semifinals of the USTA/ITA Texas Regional Championships before falling to eventual champion Blair Shankle of Baylor…Was the Flight 1 singles champion at the David Kent Invitational after going 3-0…In doubles, was second on the team for most wins with an 11-2 record…Entered the fall season tied for 14th in the ITA national doubles rankings with partner Eva Paalma but played all fall matches with Rutuja Bhosale in all 13 matches…Went 5-1 at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships, where they won three matches in the pre-qualifying doubles draw to advance to the qualifying draw, where they won their first two matches and came within one victory of reaching the main draw…Finished the fall season 4-0 against ranked opponents, including a 6-4 victory over 13th-ranked Nour Abbes and Miki Kobayashi of Washington at the Texas A&M/David Kent Invitational.
2015-16 (JUNIOR)
Went 16-13 overall in singles, including 14-10 in dual matches only as well as 7-5 in SEC matches only…Finished the season riding a career-high six-match win streak, with all matches won in straight sets and three of them coming against ranked opponents…Saw action at the No. 1-3 lines throughout the spring…Went 8-2 at No. 3, including 5-2 in SEC matches after ending conference play riding a four-match win streak…Was 6-10 against ranked opponents with the highest ranked win being a 6-1, 6-1 victory over No. 67 Mai El Kamash of Ole Miss on March 13…Ended the season with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over 67th-ranked Caroline Doyle of Stanford in the second round of the team portion of the NCAA Championship…Had entered the spring ranked 58th in the ITA national singles rankings and fifth in the ITA Texas Region singles rankings…In doubles, was 13-16 overall and was a fifth alternate to NCAA Doubles Championship with sophomore Eva Paalma…Was 12-14 overall with Paalma, including 12-12 in dual matches only, all at the No. 1 line, as well as 7-6 in SEC matches…The duo was a team-leading 8-10 against ranked opponents…Capped the season with a 6-2 victory over fifth-ranked Taylor Davidson and Caroline Doyle of Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Championship, marking the highest ranked doubles win of her Texas A&M career and tying for the highest ranked win of her collegiate career…Was ranked as high as No. 30 with Paalma during the spring and was No. 31 in the final rankings…Was No. 3 with Paalma in the final ITA Texas Region rankings…Named to the Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll for a second consecutive year.
2015 FALL RESULTS: Entered the fall ranked No. 5 in the ITA doubles rankings with Paalma, marking the highest non-final doubles ranking in program history…Also entered the spring ranked a career-high 18th in the ITA national singles rankings…Saw limited action throughout the fall due to an injury…Finished 2-3 in singles matches and 0-4 in doubles…Competed in the main draw of the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships and notched a 6-4, 7-6 (2) victory over 90th-ranked Lexi Borr of Boston College in the opening round of 64.
2014-15 (SOPHOMORE)
Named the 2015 ITA Texas Region Player to Watch and also was the only A&M player on the 12-member All-SEC first team…Received an at-large bid to the NCAA Doubles Championship with freshman Eva Paalma but fell in the first round to 26th-ranked Desirae Krawczyk and Stephanie Vlad of Arizona State, 6-2, 6-3…Also competed in the NCAA Singles Championship and fell in the first round to 17th ranked Viktoriya Lushkova of Oklahoma State, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, in the first round…Set a school record for highest final doubles ranking in program history with a No. 15 listing with freshman partner Eva Paalma after reaching an A&M career-high and team season-high No. 13 doubles ranking with Paalma on May 1…Also received a No. 41 final ranking with junior Ines Deheza in final ITA doubles...Was No. 2 in the final ITA Texas Region doubles rankings with Paalma…In the final singles rankings, was a team-high No. 30 after reaching a career-high No. 26 rating on both April 14 and May 1…Led the Aggies for most doubles victories with a 21-11 overall record, having paired with Paalma, Deheza, Rutuja Bhosale and Saska Gavrilovska…Was 11-6 overall and 9-5 in dual matches with Paalma, including 8-4 at the No. 1 line…Also was 7-3 in SEC matches with Paalma after closing out the SEC regular season riding a six-match win streak…Was 7-8 against ranked doubles opponents, including 6-4 with Paalma…Highest ranked win was with Paalma against No. 7 Giuliana Olmos and Zoe Scandalis of USC in her Aggie debut at the Baylor/Under Armour Invitational on Sept. 12…Was second on the team for most singles wins with a 22-14 overall record…Went 11-9 in dual matches, seeing action at the No. 1-3 lines…Was 7-6 at the No. 1 line…Posted an 8-5 record in conference matches only …Went 11-9 against ranked opponents, the second most ranked wins on the team…Posted the highest ranked win of her career with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (4) victory over seventh-ranked Sydney Campbell of Vanderbilt in the last match standing to clinch the Aggies’ 4-3 win against the No. 8 Commodores...Twice posted a five-match win streak, both streaks occurring in the fall.
2014 FALL RESULTS: Led the Aggies with a 7-3 record in singles, including a 4-1 ledger against nationally ranked opponents…Also led the team in doubles victories with a 9-3 mark, going 2-3 against ranked opponents…In her A&M debut, posted a 6-4, 6-3 victory over No. 55 Ema Burgic of Baylor in singles and teamed with Paalma to knock off seventh-ranked Giuliana Olmos and Zoe Scandalis of USC, 8-3, in doubles…Advanced to the singles main draw at the 2014 Riviera/ITA All-American Championships after winning three consecutive matches in the qualifying draw…In doubles, went 6-1 with Deheza…The duo won the ITA Texas Regional as the No. 1 seed to earn an automatic entry to the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, where they advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to top-seeded and eighth-ranked Beatrice Gumulya and Jessy Robpies of Clemson…Entered the spring ranked a team-high No. 21 in the nation in doubles with Paalma…Also was listed 30th with Deheza…In singles, was tied for 56th in the nation…In the ITA Texas Region rankings only, entered the spring season No. 1 in doubles with Paalma and No. 5 in singles.
AT UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
2013-14 (FRESHMAN)
Netted Virginia's first ITA All-America doubles honor with partner Julia Elbaba as a No. 5-8 seeded tandem at the NCAA Doubles Championship…Finished with a 30-12 overall record in doubles, including a 28-12 mark with Elbaba…The pair ranked a program-best No. 3 in the ITA doubles rankings and was No. 12 in the final rankings after suffering a loss in the first round of the NCAA Doubles Championship…In singles, the ITA Atlantic Region Rookie of the Year tied for sixth in UVA’s all-time single-season wins list with a 31-16 record…Went 17-11 in dual matches only and garnered All-ACC Third Team honors after posting a 7-6 singles mark in league play…Posted seven singles wins against ranked opponents, including a 6-1, 6-1 win over No. 45 Lilly Kimbell of Georgia on March 12, 2014…Ranked a career-best No. 39 in singles on Feb. 11, 2014, and finished No. 76….In the fall, won the ITA Atlantic Region doubles title with Elbaba and advanced to the quarterfinals at the ITA National Indoor Doubles Championship…Was the singles runner-up to teammate and eventual NCAA singles champion Danielle Collins at the ITA Atlantic Region and advanced to the round of 16 at the ITA National Indoor Singles Championship…Captured the doubles title with Elbaba at the USTA National Adult Open, held Dec. 26-31 at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y… Named to the All-ACC Women's Tennis Academic Team.
PREVIOUS ATHLETIC BACKGROUND: Ranked No. 5 in the 2013 Recruiting Rankings by TennisRecruiting.net…Received a No. 12 national ranking in the TennisRecruiting.net’s 2012 recruiting ranking…Named MVP of the USTA Girls 18 National Team Championships after winning all four of her No. 1 singles matches and three of four doubles contests for the Middle States team…Advanced to the doubles finals of a USTA Pro Circuit $10K event in Austin, Texas, with partner Madison Westby…Claimed three Girls 18 singles titles, including the USTA Regional Tournament Segment (Spring, Texas), USTA National Open (Waco, Texas) and USTA National Open (Midland, Texas)…Placed third at Spring Nationals Championship in 2013…Was No. 1 in Girls 16 in the USTA Middle States Region in Attended Montgomery High School (New Jersey) from 2010-11 and was named All-County and MVP.
PERSONAL: Rachel May Pierson is the daughter of Keith and Ann Pierson, a former ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year who competed in both basketball and track and field at the University of Virginia and was a two-time All-American who still holds the UVA record in the high jump (6-2, 1983)…Has an older brother, Keith…Began playing tennis when she was 5 years old…Competed for the Advantage Doyle Academy in Dripping Springs, Texas, and graduated from AESA Prep Academy in Austin, Texas…Chose A&M because she loves Texas and A&M the coaches…Hobbies include trail running and hiking with her dog…Most memorable moment in A&M career is clinching A&M’s victory against No. 8 Vanderbilt after winning a third-set tiebreaker in the last match standing…Was a member of both the SEC Academic Honor Roll and the Texas A&M Athletics Director Honor Roll as a sophomore…Is majoring in sociology, is slated to graduate in May 2017…Career ambition is to play professional tennis…Born Nov. 13, 1994, in Princeton, N.J.
PIERSON UP CLOSE:
Favorites:
Favorite class subject: Sociology
Favorite tennis player of all time and why: Kim Clijsters, she is so much fun to watch play
Favorite athlete (any sport): Lebron James
Favorite professional sports team (any sport): Cavilers
Favorite social media site: Instagram
Favorite app: Spotify
Favorite type of music: Depends on the mood but anything Red Hot Chili Peppers related
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite TV show: Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Favorite book: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet
Favorite movie: Pride and Prejudice
Favorite Disney character: Baloo the Bear from the Jungle book
Favorite part about the sport of tennis: The amazing people and friends I meet because of the sport
Favorite sport to play other than tennis: Running
Miscellaneous Questions:
My nickname is: Rach
One word to describe me when I’m on the court: Competitive and Focused
One word to describe me when I’m away from the court: Relaxed Goofball
The person who has had the greatest impact on my athletic career: Mother
The accomplishment (athletic or non-athletic) that I am most proud of: Earning All-American awards in doubles
The person I would most like to meet: Roger Federer
Song most listened to: She Moves in Her Own Way
Early bird or night owl: Night Owl
Something I've always wanted to do but haven't: Travel more
The reality show I would most like to participate in is: So You Think You Can Dance
I can’t believe I watch this TV show: Naked and Afraid
Few people know that I: I am an unreal dancer
My most prized possession: My dog Mack
My most annoying habit: Messy eater
Being at A&M has taught me: Respect and kindness go a long way
Best piece of advice for any new teammates: Time management is essential
After I graduate, I plan to: Play and coach
My dream job is: Coaching collegiately
The teammate who…
The teammate who will surprise people the most this year: Tina Bohkua
The teammate who can always make me laugh: Eva Paalma
PIERSON’S ITA CAREER RANKINGS:
(as of May 31, 2017)
Singles
#16 May 4, 2017
#18 April 25, 2017
#18 Sept. 15, 2015 (Preseason – Fall)
#19 April 18, 2017
#22 April 11, 2017
#23 May 31, 2017 (Final)
#26 May 1, 2015
#26 April 21, 2015
#30 June 3, 2015 (Final)
#32 March 24, 2015
#34 April 14, 2015
#38 April 4, 2017
#39 March 21, 2017
#39 April 7, 2015
#39V Feb. 11, 2014
#40 Feb. 24, 2015
#43V Jan. 2, 2014 (Preseason—Spring)
#44 March 7, 2017
#45 Feb. 21, 2017
#46 March 10, 2014
#47V Feb. 25, 2014
#50V March 25, 2014
#54 Sept. 8, 2014 (Preseason--Fall)
#55V March 11, 2014
T-#56 Jan. 6, 2015 (Preseason—Spring)
#58 Jan. 5, 2016 (Preseason – Spring)
#59V April 8, 2014
#64 Feb. 10, 2015
#64V April 15, 2014
#69V April 22, 2014
#71 Feb. 8, 2017
#76V June 4, 2014 (Final)
#76V May 1, 2014
#85 Jan. 4, 2017 (Preseason--Spring)
#91 Sept. 13, 2016 (Preseason--Fall)
V -- at Virginia
Doubles
(with Eva Paalma, Texas A&M)
#5a Sept. 15, 2015 (Preseason—Fall)
#T14 Sept. 13, 2016 (Preseason--Fall)
#13 May 1, 2015
#15b June 3, 2015 (Final)
#17 April 21, 2015
#21 Jan. 6, 2015 (Preseason – Spring)
#26 April 14, 2014
#30 April 12, 2016
#31 June 1, 2016 (Final)
#31 April 19, 2016
#32 April 26, 2016
#32 April 5, 2016
#32 March 10, 2015
#33 April 7, 2015
#35 May 5, 2016
#35 Feb. 24, 2015
#35 Feb. 10, 2015
#41 March 8, 2016
#42 March 22, 2016
#56 March 24, 2015
(with Rutuja Bhosale, Texas A&M)
#4c April 11, 2017
#6 April 4, 2017
#7 May 4, 2017
#7 April 18, 2017
#8 April 25, 2017
#9d May 31, 2017 (Final)
#12 March 21, 2017
#14 Feb. 21, 2017
#16 Feb. 8, 2017
#17 Jan. 4, 2017 (Preseason – Spring)
#19 March 7, 2017
a -- Indicates then-Texas A&M all-time high doubles ranking
b -- Indicates then-Texas A&M record high for final doubles ranking
c -- Indicates current Texas A&M all-time high doubles ranking
d -- Indicates current Texas A&M record high for final doubles ranking
(with Ines Deheza, Texas A&M)
#29 Feb. 24, 2015
#30 Jan. 6, 2015 (Preseason – Spring)
#37 April 14, 2015
#37 Feb. 10, 2015
#39 March 24, 2015
#41 June 3, 2015 (Final)
#42 April 7, 2015
#43 April 21, 2015
#45 May 1, 2015
#59 March 10, 2015
(with Klaudia Boczova, Texas A&M)
#35 Sept. 8, 2014 (Preseason--Fall)
(with Julia Elbaba, University of Virginia)
#3 Feb. 22, 2014
#7 May 1, 2014
#7 Feb. 25, 2014
#8 Jan. 2, 2014 (Preseason—Spring)
#9 April 8, 2014
#9 March 25, 2014
#9 March 11, 2014
#11 April 15, 2014
#12 June 4, 2014 (Final)
#13 April 22, 2014
PIERSON’S RANKED WINS:
(as of May 31, 2017)
Singles
#4 Astra Sharma, Vanderbilt (April 7, 2017)
#7 Sydney Campbell, Vanderbilt (April 10, 2015)
#14 Mayar Sherif, Pepperdine (Feb. 10, 2017)
#17 Aldila Sutjiadi, Kentucky (April 9, 2017)
#25 Ellen Perez, Georgia (April 16, 2017)
#26 Erin Routliffe, Alabama (March 22, 2015)
#29 Alizee Michaud, Auburn (March 17, 2017)
#29 Joana Vale Costa, LSU (April 17, 2015)
#32 Stefanie Nauta, Virginia (Sept. 20, 2014)
#40 Joana Vale Costa, LSU (March 13, 2015)
#42 Georgiana Patrasc, Mississippi State (Oct. 1, 2014)
#45V Lilly Kimbell, Georgia (March 12, 2014)
#55 Ema Burgic, Baylor (Sept. 12, 2014)
#59 Brittany Lindl, Tennessee (April 14, 2017)
#59 Zoe Katz, USC (Oct. 30, 2014)
#59V Maya Jansen, Alabama (Feb. 12, 2014)
#62 Mia El Kamash, Ole Miss (March 13, 2016)
#62V Tereza Bekerova, Utah (Sept. 20, 2013)
#67 Caroline Doyle, Stanford (May 14, 2016)
#71 Arianne Hartono, Ole Miss (April 2, 2017)
#73 Pleun Burgmans, Auburn (March 20, 2015)
#77V Katerina Popova, South Carolina (Sept. 20, 2013)
#88 Ana Oparenovic, Arkansas (March 27, 2016)
#90 Lexi Borr, Boston College (Oct. 8, 2015)
#92 Silvia Garcia, Georgia (April 10, 2016)
#93V Tristen Dewar, Clemson (April 6, 2014)
#97 Silvia Garcia, Georgia (April 22, 2016)
#102 Tina Bokhua, Texas A&M (Oct. 22, 2016)
#103V Sarah Lee, Michigan (March 14, 2014)
#105 Stacey Fung, Washington (Nov. 4, 2016)
#106 Gabrielle Desimone, USC (Sept. 13, 2014)
#113V Brigit Folland, South Carolina (Feb. 2, 2014)
#114 Seda Arantekin, TCU (Nov. 5, 2016)
#122 Sabrina Federici, Texas Tech (Oct. 22, 2016)
#124 Caroline Dailey, South Carolina (March 6, 2015)
V -- at Virginia
Doubles
(with Eva Paalma, Texas A&M)
#5 Taylor Davidson/Caroline Doyle, Stanford (Mary 14, 2016)
#7 Giuliana Olmos/Zoe Scandalis, USC (Sept. 12, 2014)
#9 Robin Anderson/Jennifer Brady, UCLA (May 15, 2015)
#16 Sydney Campbell/Courtney Colton, Vanderbilt (April 10, 2015)
#20 Andie Daniell/Erin Routliffe, Alabama (March 5, 2016)
#26 Beatrice Capra/Ellyse Hamlin, Duke (Feb. 7, 2016)
#33 Noel Scott/Joana Vale Costa, LSU (April 17, 2015)
#34 HadleyBerg/Paige Cline, South Carolina (March 31, 2017)
#34 Madison Harrison/Georgiana Patrasc, Mississippi State (March 11, 2016)
#54 Spencer Liang/Belinda Woolcock, Florida (March 24, 2015)
#58 Hadley Berg/Caroline Dailey, South Carolina (March 6, 2015)
#73 Sadie Hammond/Eve Repic, Tennessee (April 8, 2016)
#73 Brianna Lashway/Bea Machado Santos, Missouri (March 25, 2016)
#75 Natalia Maynetto/Erin Routliffe, Alabama (April 21, 2016)
(with Rutuja Bhosale, Texas A&M)
#8 Alizee Michaud/Taylor Russo, Auburn (March 17, 2017)
#11 Jasmine Lee/Lisa Marie Rioux, Mississippi State (March 31, 2017)
#13 Nour Abbes/Miki Kobayashi, Washington (Nov. 5, 2016)
#20 Joana Valle Costa/Ryann Foster, LSU (March 25, 2017)
#25 Erin Routliffe/Maddie Pothoff, Alabama (March 19, 2017)
#28 Lindsey Hodge/Wendy Zhang, Rice (Oct. 5, 2016)
#49 Shannon Hudson/Ana Oparenovic, Arkansas (Oct. 4, 2016)
#54 Katherine Ip/Priya Niezgoda, Rice (Nov. 4, 2016)
(with Saska Gavrilovska)
#41 Rima Asatrian/Kanika Vaidya, Columbia (Sept. 30, 2014)
(with Julia Elbaba, Virginia)
#5 Whitney Kay/Caroline Price, North Carolina (March 8, 2014)
#22 Stefania Hristov/Cristina Stancu, Texas A&M (Feb. 8, 2014)
#25 Zsofi Susanyi/Klara Fabikova, California (Oct. 2, 2013)
#30 Ester Goldfeld/Alyssa Smith, Duke (April 27, 2014)
#46 Kelsey Laurente/Melissa Bolivar, Miami (April 26, 2014)
2016-17 (at Texas A&M)
- First player in Texas A&M history to earn ITA All-America honors in both singles and doubles
- First player, along with partner Rutuja Bhosale, to earn ITA All-America honors in doubles
- NCAA Singles Championship selection, No. 9-16 seed
- NCAA Doubles Championship selection, No. 5-8 seed (with Rutuja Bhosale)
- School-record No. 9 in final ITA doubles rankings (with Rutuja Bhosale)
- All-time Texas A&M high No. 4 doubles ranking on April 11 (with Rutuja Bhosale)
- No. 1 in final ITA Texas Region doubles rankings (with Rutuja Bhosale)
- No. 23 in final ITA singles rankings
- No. 3 in final ITA Texas Region singles rankings
- ITA Texas Region Senior Player of the Year
- All-SEC First Team
- SEC Player of the Week (4/12)
- SEC Academic Honor Roll
2015-16 (at Texas A&M)
- No. 31 final national doubles ranking (with Eva Paalma)
- NCAA Doubles Championship alternate (with Eva Paalma)
- SEC Academic Honor Roll
2014-15 (at Texas A&M)
- NCAA Singles Championship participant
- NCAA Doubles Championship participant (with Eva Paalma)
- No. 15 final national doubles ranking (with Paalma, Texas A&M record-high for final doubles ranking)
- No. 30 final singles ranking
- ITA Texas Region Player to Watch
- All-SEC First Team
- 2014 ITA Regional doubles champion (with Ines Deheza)
- SEC Academic Honor Roll
2013-14 (at Virginia)
- ITA All-American (doubles, with Julia Elbaba)
- No. 5-8 seed at NCAA Doubles Championship
- No. 12 in final ITA doubles rankings
- No. 76 in final ITA singles rankings
- 2013 ITA Atlantic Region Doubles Champion
- ITA Atlantic Region Rookie of the Year
- All-ACC Third Team
- All-ACC Women's Tennis Academic Team
AT TEXAS A&M
2016-17 (SENIOR)
The ITA Texas Region Senior Player of the Year is the first player in Texas A&M history to earn All-America honors in both singles and doubles…Also is the first in program history, along with partner Rutuja Bhosale, to earn All-America accolades in doubles and is the first pair in A&M history to be seeded in the NCAA Doubles Championship after receiving a No. 5-8 seed in the 32-team field…Garnered All-America honors in singles after receiving a No. 9-16 seed in at the NCAA Singles Championship…The pair set the all-time Texas A&M high with a No. 4 doubles ranking on April 11…Also broke the school record for highest final doubles ranking, finishing the season No. 9 with Bhosale, shattering the previous record of No. 15 which Pierson set in 2015 with then-partner Eva Paalma…Pierson and Bhosale finished No. 1 in final ITA Texas Region doubles rankings, only the second time an A&M duo has finished No. 1 in the region…They were only the third doubles team in A&M history to ever reach the NCAA Doubles Championship round of 16 and came up just short of becoming the program’s first duo to reach the quarterfinals after falling to 16th-ranked Ryann Foster and Joana Valle Costa of LSU, 6-4, 3-6, 10-6…Pierson was second on the team with a 27-12 overall doubles record, going 26-12 with Bhosale…Went 15-9 in dual matches, all at the No. 1 line and played all but one match with Bhosale…The pair went 8-10 against ranked opponents, including a season-high 6-2 victory over then-No. 8 Alizee Michaud and Taylor Russo of Auburn on March 17…Led A&M in singles victories, going 26-16 overall, 16-12 in dual matches only and all at the No. 1 line, 10-4 in tournament matches, 7-5 in SEC matches and 11-14 against ranked opponents…Recorded singles wins in A&M’s victories over No. 2 Georgia, No. 5 Auburn, No. 10 Duke and No. 11 Kentucky and also earned a point against No. 3 Pepperdine and No. 7 Vanderbilt…Named the SEC Player of the Week on April 12 following a straight-set victory over 2017 SEC Player of the Year and then-No. 4 Astra Sharma of Vanderbilt, marking Pierson’s highest ranked win of her career…Closed out the SEC regular season riding a five-match winning streak...Competed in the NCAA Singles Championship for the second time in her career but fell to 70th-ranked Petra Melounova of Hawaii in the first round…After being listed No. 91 and No. 85 in the ITA preseason fall and spring singles rankings, respectively, was No. 23 in the final singles rankings in May, marking the highest final ranking of her career…Received an overall career-high No. 16 singles ranking on May 4…Was No. 3 in the ITA Texas Region final singles rankings…Selected to the All-SEC first team for the second time in her career…Named to the Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll for a third consecutive year.
2016 FALL RESULTS: Led Texas A&M in singles victories with a 10-3 record, including a 4-2 mark against ranked opponents…Won three consecutive matches to advance out of the pre-qualifying singles at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships before falling in the first round of the qualifying singles draw…Reached the singles semifinals of the USTA/ITA Texas Regional Championships before falling to eventual champion Blair Shankle of Baylor…Was the Flight 1 singles champion at the David Kent Invitational after going 3-0…In doubles, was second on the team for most wins with an 11-2 record…Entered the fall season tied for 14th in the ITA national doubles rankings with partner Eva Paalma but played all fall matches with Rutuja Bhosale in all 13 matches…Went 5-1 at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships, where they won three matches in the pre-qualifying doubles draw to advance to the qualifying draw, where they won their first two matches and came within one victory of reaching the main draw…Finished the fall season 4-0 against ranked opponents, including a 6-4 victory over 13th-ranked Nour Abbes and Miki Kobayashi of Washington at the Texas A&M/David Kent Invitational.
2015-16 (JUNIOR)
Went 16-13 overall in singles, including 14-10 in dual matches only as well as 7-5 in SEC matches only…Finished the season riding a career-high six-match win streak, with all matches won in straight sets and three of them coming against ranked opponents…Saw action at the No. 1-3 lines throughout the spring…Went 8-2 at No. 3, including 5-2 in SEC matches after ending conference play riding a four-match win streak…Was 6-10 against ranked opponents with the highest ranked win being a 6-1, 6-1 victory over No. 67 Mai El Kamash of Ole Miss on March 13…Ended the season with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over 67th-ranked Caroline Doyle of Stanford in the second round of the team portion of the NCAA Championship…Had entered the spring ranked 58th in the ITA national singles rankings and fifth in the ITA Texas Region singles rankings…In doubles, was 13-16 overall and was a fifth alternate to NCAA Doubles Championship with sophomore Eva Paalma…Was 12-14 overall with Paalma, including 12-12 in dual matches only, all at the No. 1 line, as well as 7-6 in SEC matches…The duo was a team-leading 8-10 against ranked opponents…Capped the season with a 6-2 victory over fifth-ranked Taylor Davidson and Caroline Doyle of Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Championship, marking the highest ranked doubles win of her Texas A&M career and tying for the highest ranked win of her collegiate career…Was ranked as high as No. 30 with Paalma during the spring and was No. 31 in the final rankings…Was No. 3 with Paalma in the final ITA Texas Region rankings…Named to the Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll for a second consecutive year.
2015 FALL RESULTS: Entered the fall ranked No. 5 in the ITA doubles rankings with Paalma, marking the highest non-final doubles ranking in program history…Also entered the spring ranked a career-high 18th in the ITA national singles rankings…Saw limited action throughout the fall due to an injury…Finished 2-3 in singles matches and 0-4 in doubles…Competed in the main draw of the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships and notched a 6-4, 7-6 (2) victory over 90th-ranked Lexi Borr of Boston College in the opening round of 64.
2014-15 (SOPHOMORE)
Named the 2015 ITA Texas Region Player to Watch and also was the only A&M player on the 12-member All-SEC first team…Received an at-large bid to the NCAA Doubles Championship with freshman Eva Paalma but fell in the first round to 26th-ranked Desirae Krawczyk and Stephanie Vlad of Arizona State, 6-2, 6-3…Also competed in the NCAA Singles Championship and fell in the first round to 17th ranked Viktoriya Lushkova of Oklahoma State, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, in the first round…Set a school record for highest final doubles ranking in program history with a No. 15 listing with freshman partner Eva Paalma after reaching an A&M career-high and team season-high No. 13 doubles ranking with Paalma on May 1…Also received a No. 41 final ranking with junior Ines Deheza in final ITA doubles...Was No. 2 in the final ITA Texas Region doubles rankings with Paalma…In the final singles rankings, was a team-high No. 30 after reaching a career-high No. 26 rating on both April 14 and May 1…Led the Aggies for most doubles victories with a 21-11 overall record, having paired with Paalma, Deheza, Rutuja Bhosale and Saska Gavrilovska…Was 11-6 overall and 9-5 in dual matches with Paalma, including 8-4 at the No. 1 line…Also was 7-3 in SEC matches with Paalma after closing out the SEC regular season riding a six-match win streak…Was 7-8 against ranked doubles opponents, including 6-4 with Paalma…Highest ranked win was with Paalma against No. 7 Giuliana Olmos and Zoe Scandalis of USC in her Aggie debut at the Baylor/Under Armour Invitational on Sept. 12…Was second on the team for most singles wins with a 22-14 overall record…Went 11-9 in dual matches, seeing action at the No. 1-3 lines…Was 7-6 at the No. 1 line…Posted an 8-5 record in conference matches only …Went 11-9 against ranked opponents, the second most ranked wins on the team…Posted the highest ranked win of her career with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (4) victory over seventh-ranked Sydney Campbell of Vanderbilt in the last match standing to clinch the Aggies’ 4-3 win against the No. 8 Commodores...Twice posted a five-match win streak, both streaks occurring in the fall.
2014 FALL RESULTS: Led the Aggies with a 7-3 record in singles, including a 4-1 ledger against nationally ranked opponents…Also led the team in doubles victories with a 9-3 mark, going 2-3 against ranked opponents…In her A&M debut, posted a 6-4, 6-3 victory over No. 55 Ema Burgic of Baylor in singles and teamed with Paalma to knock off seventh-ranked Giuliana Olmos and Zoe Scandalis of USC, 8-3, in doubles…Advanced to the singles main draw at the 2014 Riviera/ITA All-American Championships after winning three consecutive matches in the qualifying draw…In doubles, went 6-1 with Deheza…The duo won the ITA Texas Regional as the No. 1 seed to earn an automatic entry to the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, where they advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to top-seeded and eighth-ranked Beatrice Gumulya and Jessy Robpies of Clemson…Entered the spring ranked a team-high No. 21 in the nation in doubles with Paalma…Also was listed 30th with Deheza…In singles, was tied for 56th in the nation…In the ITA Texas Region rankings only, entered the spring season No. 1 in doubles with Paalma and No. 5 in singles.
AT UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
2013-14 (FRESHMAN)
Netted Virginia's first ITA All-America doubles honor with partner Julia Elbaba as a No. 5-8 seeded tandem at the NCAA Doubles Championship…Finished with a 30-12 overall record in doubles, including a 28-12 mark with Elbaba…The pair ranked a program-best No. 3 in the ITA doubles rankings and was No. 12 in the final rankings after suffering a loss in the first round of the NCAA Doubles Championship…In singles, the ITA Atlantic Region Rookie of the Year tied for sixth in UVA’s all-time single-season wins list with a 31-16 record…Went 17-11 in dual matches only and garnered All-ACC Third Team honors after posting a 7-6 singles mark in league play…Posted seven singles wins against ranked opponents, including a 6-1, 6-1 win over No. 45 Lilly Kimbell of Georgia on March 12, 2014…Ranked a career-best No. 39 in singles on Feb. 11, 2014, and finished No. 76….In the fall, won the ITA Atlantic Region doubles title with Elbaba and advanced to the quarterfinals at the ITA National Indoor Doubles Championship…Was the singles runner-up to teammate and eventual NCAA singles champion Danielle Collins at the ITA Atlantic Region and advanced to the round of 16 at the ITA National Indoor Singles Championship…Captured the doubles title with Elbaba at the USTA National Adult Open, held Dec. 26-31 at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y… Named to the All-ACC Women's Tennis Academic Team.
PREVIOUS ATHLETIC BACKGROUND: Ranked No. 5 in the 2013 Recruiting Rankings by TennisRecruiting.net…Received a No. 12 national ranking in the TennisRecruiting.net’s 2012 recruiting ranking…Named MVP of the USTA Girls 18 National Team Championships after winning all four of her No. 1 singles matches and three of four doubles contests for the Middle States team…Advanced to the doubles finals of a USTA Pro Circuit $10K event in Austin, Texas, with partner Madison Westby…Claimed three Girls 18 singles titles, including the USTA Regional Tournament Segment (Spring, Texas), USTA National Open (Waco, Texas) and USTA National Open (Midland, Texas)…Placed third at Spring Nationals Championship in 2013…Was No. 1 in Girls 16 in the USTA Middle States Region in Attended Montgomery High School (New Jersey) from 2010-11 and was named All-County and MVP.
PERSONAL: Rachel May Pierson is the daughter of Keith and Ann Pierson, a former ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year who competed in both basketball and track and field at the University of Virginia and was a two-time All-American who still holds the UVA record in the high jump (6-2, 1983)…Has an older brother, Keith…Began playing tennis when she was 5 years old…Competed for the Advantage Doyle Academy in Dripping Springs, Texas, and graduated from AESA Prep Academy in Austin, Texas…Chose A&M because she loves Texas and A&M the coaches…Hobbies include trail running and hiking with her dog…Most memorable moment in A&M career is clinching A&M’s victory against No. 8 Vanderbilt after winning a third-set tiebreaker in the last match standing…Was a member of both the SEC Academic Honor Roll and the Texas A&M Athletics Director Honor Roll as a sophomore…Is majoring in sociology, is slated to graduate in May 2017…Career ambition is to play professional tennis…Born Nov. 13, 1994, in Princeton, N.J.
PIERSON UP CLOSE:
Favorites:
Favorite class subject: Sociology
Favorite tennis player of all time and why: Kim Clijsters, she is so much fun to watch play
Favorite athlete (any sport): Lebron James
Favorite professional sports team (any sport): Cavilers
Favorite social media site: Instagram
Favorite app: Spotify
Favorite type of music: Depends on the mood but anything Red Hot Chili Peppers related
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite TV show: Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Favorite book: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet
Favorite movie: Pride and Prejudice
Favorite Disney character: Baloo the Bear from the Jungle book
Favorite part about the sport of tennis: The amazing people and friends I meet because of the sport
Favorite sport to play other than tennis: Running
Miscellaneous Questions:
My nickname is: Rach
One word to describe me when I’m on the court: Competitive and Focused
One word to describe me when I’m away from the court: Relaxed Goofball
The person who has had the greatest impact on my athletic career: Mother
The accomplishment (athletic or non-athletic) that I am most proud of: Earning All-American awards in doubles
The person I would most like to meet: Roger Federer
Song most listened to: She Moves in Her Own Way
Early bird or night owl: Night Owl
Something I've always wanted to do but haven't: Travel more
The reality show I would most like to participate in is: So You Think You Can Dance
I can’t believe I watch this TV show: Naked and Afraid
Few people know that I: I am an unreal dancer
My most prized possession: My dog Mack
My most annoying habit: Messy eater
Being at A&M has taught me: Respect and kindness go a long way
Best piece of advice for any new teammates: Time management is essential
After I graduate, I plan to: Play and coach
My dream job is: Coaching collegiately
The teammate who…
The teammate who will surprise people the most this year: Tina Bohkua
The teammate who can always make me laugh: Eva Paalma
PIERSON’S ITA CAREER RANKINGS:
(as of May 31, 2017)
Singles
#16 May 4, 2017
#18 April 25, 2017
#18 Sept. 15, 2015 (Preseason – Fall)
#19 April 18, 2017
#22 April 11, 2017
#23 May 31, 2017 (Final)
#26 May 1, 2015
#26 April 21, 2015
#30 June 3, 2015 (Final)
#32 March 24, 2015
#34 April 14, 2015
#38 April 4, 2017
#39 March 21, 2017
#39 April 7, 2015
#39V Feb. 11, 2014
#40 Feb. 24, 2015
#43V Jan. 2, 2014 (Preseason—Spring)
#44 March 7, 2017
#45 Feb. 21, 2017
#46 March 10, 2014
#47V Feb. 25, 2014
#50V March 25, 2014
#54 Sept. 8, 2014 (Preseason--Fall)
#55V March 11, 2014
T-#56 Jan. 6, 2015 (Preseason—Spring)
#58 Jan. 5, 2016 (Preseason – Spring)
#59V April 8, 2014
#64 Feb. 10, 2015
#64V April 15, 2014
#69V April 22, 2014
#71 Feb. 8, 2017
#76V June 4, 2014 (Final)
#76V May 1, 2014
#85 Jan. 4, 2017 (Preseason--Spring)
#91 Sept. 13, 2016 (Preseason--Fall)
V -- at Virginia
Doubles
(with Eva Paalma, Texas A&M)
#5a Sept. 15, 2015 (Preseason—Fall)
#T14 Sept. 13, 2016 (Preseason--Fall)
#13 May 1, 2015
#15b June 3, 2015 (Final)
#17 April 21, 2015
#21 Jan. 6, 2015 (Preseason – Spring)
#26 April 14, 2014
#30 April 12, 2016
#31 June 1, 2016 (Final)
#31 April 19, 2016
#32 April 26, 2016
#32 April 5, 2016
#32 March 10, 2015
#33 April 7, 2015
#35 May 5, 2016
#35 Feb. 24, 2015
#35 Feb. 10, 2015
#41 March 8, 2016
#42 March 22, 2016
#56 March 24, 2015
(with Rutuja Bhosale, Texas A&M)
#4c April 11, 2017
#6 April 4, 2017
#7 May 4, 2017
#7 April 18, 2017
#8 April 25, 2017
#9d May 31, 2017 (Final)
#12 March 21, 2017
#14 Feb. 21, 2017
#16 Feb. 8, 2017
#17 Jan. 4, 2017 (Preseason – Spring)
#19 March 7, 2017
a -- Indicates then-Texas A&M all-time high doubles ranking
b -- Indicates then-Texas A&M record high for final doubles ranking
c -- Indicates current Texas A&M all-time high doubles ranking
d -- Indicates current Texas A&M record high for final doubles ranking
(with Ines Deheza, Texas A&M)
#29 Feb. 24, 2015
#30 Jan. 6, 2015 (Preseason – Spring)
#37 April 14, 2015
#37 Feb. 10, 2015
#39 March 24, 2015
#41 June 3, 2015 (Final)
#42 April 7, 2015
#43 April 21, 2015
#45 May 1, 2015
#59 March 10, 2015
(with Klaudia Boczova, Texas A&M)
#35 Sept. 8, 2014 (Preseason--Fall)
(with Julia Elbaba, University of Virginia)
#3 Feb. 22, 2014
#7 May 1, 2014
#7 Feb. 25, 2014
#8 Jan. 2, 2014 (Preseason—Spring)
#9 April 8, 2014
#9 March 25, 2014
#9 March 11, 2014
#11 April 15, 2014
#12 June 4, 2014 (Final)
#13 April 22, 2014
PIERSON’S RANKED WINS:
(as of May 31, 2017)
Singles
#4 Astra Sharma, Vanderbilt (April 7, 2017)
#7 Sydney Campbell, Vanderbilt (April 10, 2015)
#14 Mayar Sherif, Pepperdine (Feb. 10, 2017)
#17 Aldila Sutjiadi, Kentucky (April 9, 2017)
#25 Ellen Perez, Georgia (April 16, 2017)
#26 Erin Routliffe, Alabama (March 22, 2015)
#29 Alizee Michaud, Auburn (March 17, 2017)
#29 Joana Vale Costa, LSU (April 17, 2015)
#32 Stefanie Nauta, Virginia (Sept. 20, 2014)
#40 Joana Vale Costa, LSU (March 13, 2015)
#42 Georgiana Patrasc, Mississippi State (Oct. 1, 2014)
#45V Lilly Kimbell, Georgia (March 12, 2014)
#55 Ema Burgic, Baylor (Sept. 12, 2014)
#59 Brittany Lindl, Tennessee (April 14, 2017)
#59 Zoe Katz, USC (Oct. 30, 2014)
#59V Maya Jansen, Alabama (Feb. 12, 2014)
#62 Mia El Kamash, Ole Miss (March 13, 2016)
#62V Tereza Bekerova, Utah (Sept. 20, 2013)
#67 Caroline Doyle, Stanford (May 14, 2016)
#71 Arianne Hartono, Ole Miss (April 2, 2017)
#73 Pleun Burgmans, Auburn (March 20, 2015)
#77V Katerina Popova, South Carolina (Sept. 20, 2013)
#88 Ana Oparenovic, Arkansas (March 27, 2016)
#90 Lexi Borr, Boston College (Oct. 8, 2015)
#92 Silvia Garcia, Georgia (April 10, 2016)
#93V Tristen Dewar, Clemson (April 6, 2014)
#97 Silvia Garcia, Georgia (April 22, 2016)
#102 Tina Bokhua, Texas A&M (Oct. 22, 2016)
#103V Sarah Lee, Michigan (March 14, 2014)
#105 Stacey Fung, Washington (Nov. 4, 2016)
#106 Gabrielle Desimone, USC (Sept. 13, 2014)
#113V Brigit Folland, South Carolina (Feb. 2, 2014)
#114 Seda Arantekin, TCU (Nov. 5, 2016)
#122 Sabrina Federici, Texas Tech (Oct. 22, 2016)
#124 Caroline Dailey, South Carolina (March 6, 2015)
V -- at Virginia
Doubles
(with Eva Paalma, Texas A&M)
#5 Taylor Davidson/Caroline Doyle, Stanford (Mary 14, 2016)
#7 Giuliana Olmos/Zoe Scandalis, USC (Sept. 12, 2014)
#9 Robin Anderson/Jennifer Brady, UCLA (May 15, 2015)
#16 Sydney Campbell/Courtney Colton, Vanderbilt (April 10, 2015)
#20 Andie Daniell/Erin Routliffe, Alabama (March 5, 2016)
#26 Beatrice Capra/Ellyse Hamlin, Duke (Feb. 7, 2016)
#33 Noel Scott/Joana Vale Costa, LSU (April 17, 2015)
#34 HadleyBerg/Paige Cline, South Carolina (March 31, 2017)
#34 Madison Harrison/Georgiana Patrasc, Mississippi State (March 11, 2016)
#54 Spencer Liang/Belinda Woolcock, Florida (March 24, 2015)
#58 Hadley Berg/Caroline Dailey, South Carolina (March 6, 2015)
#73 Sadie Hammond/Eve Repic, Tennessee (April 8, 2016)
#73 Brianna Lashway/Bea Machado Santos, Missouri (March 25, 2016)
#75 Natalia Maynetto/Erin Routliffe, Alabama (April 21, 2016)
(with Rutuja Bhosale, Texas A&M)
#8 Alizee Michaud/Taylor Russo, Auburn (March 17, 2017)
#11 Jasmine Lee/Lisa Marie Rioux, Mississippi State (March 31, 2017)
#13 Nour Abbes/Miki Kobayashi, Washington (Nov. 5, 2016)
#20 Joana Valle Costa/Ryann Foster, LSU (March 25, 2017)
#25 Erin Routliffe/Maddie Pothoff, Alabama (March 19, 2017)
#28 Lindsey Hodge/Wendy Zhang, Rice (Oct. 5, 2016)
#49 Shannon Hudson/Ana Oparenovic, Arkansas (Oct. 4, 2016)
#54 Katherine Ip/Priya Niezgoda, Rice (Nov. 4, 2016)
(with Saska Gavrilovska)
#41 Rima Asatrian/Kanika Vaidya, Columbia (Sept. 30, 2014)
(with Julia Elbaba, Virginia)
#5 Whitney Kay/Caroline Price, North Carolina (March 8, 2014)
#22 Stefania Hristov/Cristina Stancu, Texas A&M (Feb. 8, 2014)
#25 Zsofi Susanyi/Klara Fabikova, California (Oct. 2, 2013)
#30 Ester Goldfeld/Alyssa Smith, Duke (April 27, 2014)
#46 Kelsey Laurente/Melissa Bolivar, Miami (April 26, 2014)
Georgia Postgame: Mark Weaver, Mary Stoiana, Mia Kupres
Sunday, May 18
Michigan Postgame: Mark Weaver, Nicole Khirin, Lexington Reed
Saturday, May 17
NCAA Team Championship Preview: Daria Smetannikov
Monday, May 12
NCAA Team Championship Preview: Mia Kupres
Monday, May 12
