The University of Akron Athletics
2018-19 Akron Women's Tennis Roster

Rita Pedroso
- Height:
- 5-3
- Class:
- Junior
- High School:
- Escola Secundaria Garcia de Orta
- Hometown:
- Porto, Portugal
Bio
TEAM CAPTAIN
As a Senior (2019-20): Team captain ... CoSIDA Academic All-America nominee ... recipient of team’s Coaches’ Award ... Dean’s List student ... (Fall) Went 5-6 in singles action ... paired with Miruna Vasilescu in doubles action, going 5-6 overall ... (Spring) Recorded a 4-4 singles record during a shortened season ... played at the No. 3 position ... went 4-4 overall in doubles action ... went 2-2 at No. 2 with Ceci Rosas ... went 2-2 at No. 1 with Vasilescu ... named MAC Doubles Team of the Week on Feb. 19 ... had two victories at the No. 1 spot with Vasilescu ... in Akron’s first victory of the spring season, a 7-0 sweep of Seton Hall on Feb. 14, the duo defeated Minja Gligic and Hiba El Khalifi, 6-2.
As a Junior (2018-19): Team captain ... Academic All-MAC ... Dean’s List student ... shared team’s Most Improved Player Award ... (Fall) Went 6-4 in singles action ... teamed with sophomores Anna Uljanov and Miruna Vasilesu for an 8-5 doubles record ... (Spring) Went 16-7 in singles action, playing mostly at No. 4-5 ... paired with Vasilescu at No. 1 doubles ... finished at 24-8 overall, including 19-6 in spring action ... named the MAC Doubles Team of the Week twice (Jan. 30, Feb. 20).
Â
As a Sophomore (2017-18): 2018 ITA Scholar-Athlete … Academic All-MAC ... (Fall) Participated in the ITA Midwest Championships … won her qualifying match … (Spring) Played No.1/2 singles … went 11-20 in singles action … played No. 1 doubles with freshman Anna Uljanov … went 12-13 in doubles action … named MAC Doubles Team of the Week on March 7 after winning two home matches and helping Zips win the doubles point twice.
Â
As a Freshman (2016-17): 2017 ITA Scholar-Athlete ... Dean’s List student ... (Fall) Only freshman on the squad ... played No. 4/5 singles ... won first five collegiate matches ... went 10-4 in the fall ... played No. 3 doubles with Shannon Newnes and Luisa Echeverry ... went 10-4 in the fall ... (Spring) Played No. 2/3 singles ... finished 25-13 overall and 15-9 in the spring ... named the Zips’ Student-Athlete of the Week on March 6 after helping the Zips to their 12th consecutive win with victories in both singles and doubles action against Illinois-Chicago and Valparaiso ... played No. 3 doubles with team captain Shannon Newnes ... went 23-11 overall and 13-6 in the spring in doubles play.
Â
High School: Won the U18 National Team Championship in 2014 and 2015 … also won the National Team Championship in the Senior Open 2nd Division in 2014 and 2015 as well … three-time U18 Regional and State Championship runner-up in singles play … runner-up in doubles at the 2014 U16 Europe Tournament and claimed the singles National Tournament title in U18 Category B … became the No. 1 ranked player in the U18 National standings in 2015 … won both singles and doubles at the U18 National Tournament Category B that same year … runner-up in both the 2016 U18 National Tournament Category A and B … overall, ranked No. 3 in U18 and No. 9 in the Senior Open while being regionally rated No. 2 in U18 and No. 4 in the Senior Open.
Â
Personal:Â International business major.
PEDROSO'SÂ CAREER STATS
Â
* shortened season
As a Senior (2019-20): Team captain ... CoSIDA Academic All-America nominee ... recipient of team’s Coaches’ Award ... Dean’s List student ... (Fall) Went 5-6 in singles action ... paired with Miruna Vasilescu in doubles action, going 5-6 overall ... (Spring) Recorded a 4-4 singles record during a shortened season ... played at the No. 3 position ... went 4-4 overall in doubles action ... went 2-2 at No. 2 with Ceci Rosas ... went 2-2 at No. 1 with Vasilescu ... named MAC Doubles Team of the Week on Feb. 19 ... had two victories at the No. 1 spot with Vasilescu ... in Akron’s first victory of the spring season, a 7-0 sweep of Seton Hall on Feb. 14, the duo defeated Minja Gligic and Hiba El Khalifi, 6-2.
As a Junior (2018-19): Team captain ... Academic All-MAC ... Dean’s List student ... shared team’s Most Improved Player Award ... (Fall) Went 6-4 in singles action ... teamed with sophomores Anna Uljanov and Miruna Vasilesu for an 8-5 doubles record ... (Spring) Went 16-7 in singles action, playing mostly at No. 4-5 ... paired with Vasilescu at No. 1 doubles ... finished at 24-8 overall, including 19-6 in spring action ... named the MAC Doubles Team of the Week twice (Jan. 30, Feb. 20).
Â
As a Sophomore (2017-18): 2018 ITA Scholar-Athlete … Academic All-MAC ... (Fall) Participated in the ITA Midwest Championships … won her qualifying match … (Spring) Played No.1/2 singles … went 11-20 in singles action … played No. 1 doubles with freshman Anna Uljanov … went 12-13 in doubles action … named MAC Doubles Team of the Week on March 7 after winning two home matches and helping Zips win the doubles point twice.
Â
As a Freshman (2016-17): 2017 ITA Scholar-Athlete ... Dean’s List student ... (Fall) Only freshman on the squad ... played No. 4/5 singles ... won first five collegiate matches ... went 10-4 in the fall ... played No. 3 doubles with Shannon Newnes and Luisa Echeverry ... went 10-4 in the fall ... (Spring) Played No. 2/3 singles ... finished 25-13 overall and 15-9 in the spring ... named the Zips’ Student-Athlete of the Week on March 6 after helping the Zips to their 12th consecutive win with victories in both singles and doubles action against Illinois-Chicago and Valparaiso ... played No. 3 doubles with team captain Shannon Newnes ... went 23-11 overall and 13-6 in the spring in doubles play.
Â
High School: Won the U18 National Team Championship in 2014 and 2015 … also won the National Team Championship in the Senior Open 2nd Division in 2014 and 2015 as well … three-time U18 Regional and State Championship runner-up in singles play … runner-up in doubles at the 2014 U16 Europe Tournament and claimed the singles National Tournament title in U18 Category B … became the No. 1 ranked player in the U18 National standings in 2015 … won both singles and doubles at the U18 National Tournament Category B that same year … runner-up in both the 2016 U18 National Tournament Category A and B … overall, ranked No. 3 in U18 and No. 9 in the Senior Open while being regionally rated No. 2 in U18 and No. 4 in the Senior Open.
Â
Personal:Â International business major.
PEDROSO'SÂ CAREER STATS
Â
SINGLES | |||||||||||
Season   | Overall | Dual | Tourn. | MAC |     | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 |
2016-17 | 25-13Â | 15-9 | 10-4 | 1-7 | -Â | 3-0Â | 12-9 | 3-0 | 2-1 | - | |
2017-18 | 11-20Â | 9-17 | 2-3 | 1-7 | 7-12Â | 2-4Â | 0-1 | - | - | - | |
2018-19 | 22-11Â | 16-7 | 6-4 | 5-2 | 1-0Â | -Â | 1-0 | 9-5 | 3-2 | 2-0 | |
2019-20* | 9-10 | 4-4 | 5-6 | - | - | - | 4-4 | - | - | - | |
Total  | 67-54 | 44-37 | 23-16 | 7-16 | 8-12 | 5-4 | 17-14 | 12-5 | 5-3 | 2-0 | |
DOUBLES | Â | Â | |||||||||
Season | Overall | Dual | Tourn. | MAC | #1 | #2 | #3 | ||||
2016-17Â | 23-11Â | 13-6Â | 10-4 | 3-2 | 2-0 | 3-3Â | 14-6 | ||||
2017-18Â | 13-18Â | 12-13Â | 1-5 | 1-6 | 9-10 | 1-3Â | 2-0 | ||||
2018-19Â | 27-11Â | 19-6Â | 8-5 | 5-2 | 18-6 | 1-0Â | - | ||||
2019-20* | 9-10 | 4-4 | 5-6 | - | 2-2Â Â | 2-2 | - | ||||
Total  | 72-50 | 48-29 | 24-20 | 9-10 | 31-18 | 7-8 | 16-6 | ||||
* shortened season
2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer - Post-Game Comments at Vermont - 9/13/25
Sunday, September 14
2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer Post-Game Press Conference vs. Western Michigan - 9/9/2025
Wednesday, September 10
2025 Zips Weekly with Joe Moorhead - Episode #3 - Nebraska Recap - 09.09.25
Wednesday, September 10
2025 Akron Zips Football - Weekly Press Conference with Joe Moorhead Week #3 (UAB) - 9/8/25
Monday, September 08