THE PATRICKS ON FARACE: “Claudia has been working very consistently and making steady improvements since her freshman year. She will continue to add depth to our team, while challenging for a spot in the starting lineup.”
JUNIOR (FALL 2003): Picked up wins over Purdue’s Emily Bomersback and N.C. State’s Carmen Torres at the St. Mary’s Fall Classic...Fell in the flight eight singles final to Blakely Offutt of Wake Forest...Cruised by Mackenzie Mekus of Louisville, 6-1, 6-1, in the first round of the adidas Collegiate Invitational...Picked up two wins at the SEC Coaches Fall Classic to close out the fall with a record of 5-4...Paired up with classmate Erin Cohn in doubles competition to record a win over Carmen Torres and Lauren Barry of N.C. State at St. Mary’s...Downed Louisville’s pair of Paige Eber and Mackenzie Mekus, 8-6, to reach the doubles consolation semifinals at the adidas Collegiate Invitational...The duo added another win to their ledger with a decision over South Carolina’s George and Walsh at the SEC Fall Classic.
SOPHOMORE (2002-03): Saw action at the No. 6 singles slot in two dual matches, compiling a 1-1 record...Earned her first career dual-match win by defeating Emily Vest of Middle Tennessee State on Jan. 25...Amassed a 3-5 singles record in tournament play during the fall...Notched consecutive wins at the St. Mary’s Fall Classic, defeating a pair of players from N.C. State in straight sets…Farace’s third singles victory of the fall came at the expense of Sekita Grant of Georgia Tech, 6-3, 6-1, at the June Stewart Invitational…Teamed up with Cohn for doubles…The duo went 3-5, picking up wins at the adidas Invitational, the St. Mary’s Fall Classic and the June Stewart Invitational...Earned Lady Vol Honor Roll recognition for her strong academic performance.
FRESHMAN (2001-02): Split a pair of singles matches at the St. Mary’s Fall Classic…Also competed at the Southern Intercollegiate in November…Recorded a victory against Wofford’s Kristine Banks, 6-2, 6-0…Defeated Laura Puch of Armstrong Atlantic, 6-4, 6-2, as well…Finished with a 3-2 record in singles…Teamed up with Cohn in doubles at the Southern Intercollegiate as well…The duo grabbed a pair of wins over Coleman and Whistenhunt of Wofford and Fitzpatrick and Zalinski of Western Carolina…They closed out the season with a 2-1 record together.
HIGH SCHOOL: A two-sport athlete in high school, Farace earned varsity letters in tennis and also played field hockey…Placed second in the Maryland State Championship in 1999…Ranked as high as No. 3 in the state of Maryland and No. 13 in the Mid-Atlantic region…Played the No. 1 singles position as a freshman and went undefeated in the region…Her team was ranked No. 2 in the state in 1998…Earned all-metro recognition each of her four high school years.
PERSONAL: Farace is majoring in advertising…Aspires to own an advertising company someday…Lists her hobbies as skiing, swimming, sleeping, field hockey, shopping and hanging out with friends…Has three siblings, Chad, 30; Ryan, 27; and Albert, 21…Claudia Florence Farace was born on Dec. 22, 1983, in Baltimore, Md…Is the daughter of Al and Nadia Farace.
FARACE UP CLOSE
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite tennis player: Mary Pierce
Favorite book: Lost Treasure
Favorite musical artist: Britney Spears
Favorite TV show: Friends
Best movie I have seen in the last year: Unfaithful
Tennis racket of choice: Wilson Hyper Hammer
Favorite surface: Indoor
Favorite place on campus: Neyland Stadium
Favorite junk food: Airheads
Best class I have taken: Advertising
Favorite vacation spot: Aspen
In my free time I enjoy: Sleeping
Favorite Sports memory: Getting hit in the head with a ball by Erin Cohn during practice
Favorite Post-match meal: Spaghetti
My dream job would be: Living in the Caymans as a tennis coach
Person I admire: My parents
Something people would be surprised to know about me: I hate eggs and bacon
