University of Connecticut Athletics
2022-23 Women's Tennis Roster
Denise Lai
- Class:
- Senior
- High School:
- Ward Melville
- Hometown:
- Setauket, N.Y.
2022-23 (Senior Season): In the fall, Lai won in doubles play with her partner, Nansi Toskova in the round of 32 at Army Invitational with a 7-5 score. They then fell to Army in the round of 16 with a 6-3 score. In the spring, had a 2-2 singles record at the six singles position.
2021-22 (Junior Season): Played at the No. 5 and No. 6 spots during the season...She finished the year with nine singles wins and won 11 times in doubles play...She teamed with classmate Caroline Cook to win eight matches in doubles play, seven at the No. 3 spot in dual matches...Helped the Huskies to a BIG EAST Tournament opening round win over Villanova with a doubles victory with Cook.
2020-21 (Sophomore Season): Saw action at the No. 2, 3, and 4 singles spots during her sophomore season...Posted a 6-7 overall singles record and was 2-1 against BIG EAST competition...In doubles play, teamed with classmate Doga Selen Takunyaci playing at No. 2...The duo posted an 8-4 record and was 2-2 against BIG EAST teams...Named an ITA Scholar-Athlete.
2019-20 (Freshman Season): Posted nine singles and eight doubles wins during her rookie season at UConn…Played at the No. 3 through 5 spots during the spring, going 4-5 in dual matches…Finished with five singles wins during the fall tournament schedule…Earned a pair of wins over Fairfield and Quinnipiac in her first collegiate action at the QU Invitational…Also won a pair of doubles matches that weekend with sophomore Luciana Rabines…The duo finished with a 7-4 record playing together, the best doubles mark on the team…Went 5-3 during the spring with wins over Seton Hall, Drexel, Cornell, Binghamton and LIU.
Before UConn: Graduated from Melville High School where she played tennis for head coach Erick Sussin…She was named a three-time New York All-State tennis player playing at No. 1 singles for much of her career…Elected team captain twice…Winner of the Jennifer Sherry USTA Sportsmanship award…Won the Divisionals three times and helped lead her team to County Championship in 2016…Undefeated in the regular season for four years and was named All-County all four years…Off the court, a member of the National Honor Society, the Foreign Language Honor Society and the Key Club…An two-time All-State and All-Country violinist.
Personal: Born February 1, 2001…Daughter of Yu-Jen and Debbie Lai…Has a brother Emerson….Plans to major in applied mathematics.
