CLAREMONT, Calif. - Haverford College women's tennis senior Rachael Fitzgerald competed in the First Round the NCAA Singles Championships at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center in Claremont, Calif. on Saturday morning.

Fitzgerald took on Ruth Hill, who is a three-time All-American and currently ranks 24th in the nation, playing first singles for the Trinity (Texas) Tigers. The reigning Southern Collegiate Conference (SCAC) Player of the Year defeated Fitzgerald in a pair of 6-3, 6-3, sets to advance to the Second Round of the NCAA Championships. 

The NCAA First Round match concludes an impressive four-year career for Fitzgerald, who is the the third Haverford player to reach the NCAA Singles tournament in four years - joining Abbey Russano in 2022 and Ellie Esterowitz in 2023. 

Competing exclusively at No. 1 singles and doubles for the Fords, Fitzgerald recorded a 12-5 mark in dual matches and a 7-1 record in Centennial Conference play. She secured a notable three-set victory over Lauryn Douglas of No. 37 Bethel on March 13 during the Fords' annual spring break trip, along with two wins against Franklin & Marshall's Jenna Harrison in both the regular season and postseason. The Waterford, Virginia, native was ranked No. 20 in the ITA Atlantic South singles rankings on April 4 and was named Centennial Conference Player of the Week on April 22 after a 4-0 week that included singles wins over Ursinus and Stevens.

Fitzgerald's selection caps off an exciting 2025 campaign for the Haverford Women's Tennis team, which saw the squad reach the CC playoffs for the 14th time in 15 seasons.