Women's Tennis
Anundsen O'Leary, Sara
Sara Anundsen O'Leary
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- saanundsen@davidson.edu
- Phone:
- 2437
Coach Anundsen O'Leary, formerly Sara Anundsen, enters her fourth year for the 2017-18 season leading the Davidson women's tennis program after Athletic Director Jim Murphy announced July 11, 2014, she was the new head coach of the program.
O'Leary, who came from a very successful program at North Carolina, took over for Caroline Price, who retired in June of 2014 after leading the Wildcats for 32 years and winning the 1983 NCAA Division III National Championship, the only national title in school history.
It was another successful campaign for O'Leary and the Wildcats in 2017, as they went 15-6 overall and 6-2 in Atlantic 10 play. Assisting the 'Cats was a 9-1 home record, while pushing their school record winning streak to 16 consecutive matches before falling to cross-county rival Charlotte, 4-3, in their second-to-final home matches of the season. All six players who saw match action during the season won at least 10 matches, the most since the 2010 campaign.
For the third consecutive year, O'Leary had three players earn Atlantic 10 honors as Anna Catharine Feaster, Megan Scholvinck and Alexandra Abele each picked up end of the season accolades. Feaster was named to the first team for the third straight season, while Scholvinck and Abele were named to the second team. Abele was won of the top freshman in the league, finishing with a team-best 16-4 record and earning A-10 Rookie of the Week honors a program-best five times.Â
The 2016 season was an outstanding one for both O'Leary and the Wildcats. She guided the 'Cats to a very impressive 18-5 overall record and went a perfect 6-0 in Atlantic 10 matches, while reaching the league's championship match for the first time before falling to VCU. The 18-win campaign was the most victories for the program since a 19-win season in 2008, which happened to be the last time they also reached a conference tournament final when they were members of the Southern Conference.
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O'Leary also led the Wildcats to an 11-match win streak during the season, which was one away from tying the second longest in program history of 12 in 2005.
For her stellar season, O'Leary was honored by her peers for her excellent season by being named the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, the first time since 2002 the program was honored with the award. Coach Price won SoCon Coach of the Year three times during her tenure. Anundsen as saw three of her players (Anna Catharine Feaster, Ava Todd and Gabrielle Centenari) each garner all-conference honors, with Feaster and Todd being placed on the first team, while freshman Centenari was a second-team member. Senior Elaina Cummer was named to the all-academic team after a great finish to her senior season.
In her first year of being a head coach as well as guiding the program into its first year in the Atlantic 10, O'Leary did not disappoint as she brought her winning touch from UNC to Davidson and had a solid debut. She led the 'Cats to their most wins since 2010, going 12-10 overall on the season and finishing 3-2 in Atlantic 10 play. She led them to their first A-10 Tournament win with a 4-1 decision over St. Bonaventure to reach the quarterfinals. Davidson earned its first-ever A-10 regular season win over George Mason, a 6-1 victory at home, while picking up first-time wins in program history against Arkansas State and Saint Joseph's, while scoring a 4-1 victory against cross-county rival Charlotte.
The Wildcats opened the year strong, winning five of their first six matches, including running off a five-match win streak, which was also the longest since 2010, after falling to nationally-ranked Virginia Tech to open the season. Davidson also performed well on its home courts, going 8-4.
O'Leary saw her freshman class produce one of the most successful seasons in recent history. The quartet of Feaster, Todd, Ally Sexton and Cassidy Shell went a combined 47-19 in singles action and added another 28 victories in doubles. Feaster and Todd won 19 and 16 singles matches, respectively, and were each honored by the Atlantic 10. Feaster earned A-10 All-First Team and was named the league's rookie performer of the week three times. Todd was just as good, earning a spot on the league's second team with junior Elaina Cummer. She also took home a weekly award four different times. Todd's impressive season included a 16-match win streak, the longest since Kelsey Linville had a 13-match streak in 2005.
In addition, O'Leary's first year was also highlighted by a couple of prestigious honors. She was named to the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2015 in January. Then during the summer of 2015, O'Leary was one of four coaches picked to coach the USTA Collegiate National Team. She had the honor to coach Lamie Loeb and Brooke Austin, who finished the 2015 season nationally-ranked No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.
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O'Leary came to Davidson from a very successful program at North Carolina. During her four years as assistant coach, Anundsen helped the Tar Heels reach the NCAA Tournament all four years, including this past season when UNC reached its first national championship match before falling in a close 4-3 decision to UCLA.
In addition to capturing the 2014 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season title and finishing third in the ITA National Rankings, the Tar Heels posted a 29-6 record, which was one win shy of the program record set in 2010. O'Leary also coached four players this past year that received All-American honors, including the No. 1 player in the country, Jamie Loeb.
In her first year as an assistant, O'Leary helped the Tar Heels advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Junior Sanaz Marand earned All-America honors after advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA singles event. In addition, Marand and doubles partner Sophie Grabinski earned All-America honors for their play.
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The 2009-10 campaign was a new high for the program, as the Tar Heels advanced to the national semifinals for the first time in school history. O'Leary earned ITA Carolina Region Assistant Coach of the Year for her efforts as the Tar Heels finished with a school-record 30 wins and an ACC-record 11-0 mark in league play.
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The 2011 Tar Heels followed that up with a run to the national quarterfinals as well as the program's first ACC title since 2002. Three Carolina players earned All-America honors and O'Leary was named ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year after earning regional honors for the second straight season.
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As a player, Anundsen O'Learly, earned All-America honors in 2006 and 2007, and helped lead the Tar Heels to a pair of Sweet Sixteens and an Elite Eight. A native of Littleton, Colo., Anundsen O'Leary captured the 2007 NCAA doubles title after falling in the national semifinals in 2006. She and her playing partner finished the 2007 season 29-6 and were named ITA National Doubles Team Of The Year. By virtue of their NCAA title, Anundsen O'Leary and Long also earned a wild card berth into the 2007 U.S. Open.
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Anundsen O'Leary graduated from UNC with a degree in management and society in 2007. She twice was named to the Dean’s List and earned ACC Honor Roll honors three times, while being named to the ACC All-Academic Team twice. During her senior year, she was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III Team.
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O'Leary, who came from a very successful program at North Carolina, took over for Caroline Price, who retired in June of 2014 after leading the Wildcats for 32 years and winning the 1983 NCAA Division III National Championship, the only national title in school history.
It was another successful campaign for O'Leary and the Wildcats in 2017, as they went 15-6 overall and 6-2 in Atlantic 10 play. Assisting the 'Cats was a 9-1 home record, while pushing their school record winning streak to 16 consecutive matches before falling to cross-county rival Charlotte, 4-3, in their second-to-final home matches of the season. All six players who saw match action during the season won at least 10 matches, the most since the 2010 campaign.
For the third consecutive year, O'Leary had three players earn Atlantic 10 honors as Anna Catharine Feaster, Megan Scholvinck and Alexandra Abele each picked up end of the season accolades. Feaster was named to the first team for the third straight season, while Scholvinck and Abele were named to the second team. Abele was won of the top freshman in the league, finishing with a team-best 16-4 record and earning A-10 Rookie of the Week honors a program-best five times.Â
The 2016 season was an outstanding one for both O'Leary and the Wildcats. She guided the 'Cats to a very impressive 18-5 overall record and went a perfect 6-0 in Atlantic 10 matches, while reaching the league's championship match for the first time before falling to VCU. The 18-win campaign was the most victories for the program since a 19-win season in 2008, which happened to be the last time they also reached a conference tournament final when they were members of the Southern Conference.
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O'Leary also led the Wildcats to an 11-match win streak during the season, which was one away from tying the second longest in program history of 12 in 2005.
For her stellar season, O'Leary was honored by her peers for her excellent season by being named the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, the first time since 2002 the program was honored with the award. Coach Price won SoCon Coach of the Year three times during her tenure. Anundsen as saw three of her players (Anna Catharine Feaster, Ava Todd and Gabrielle Centenari) each garner all-conference honors, with Feaster and Todd being placed on the first team, while freshman Centenari was a second-team member. Senior Elaina Cummer was named to the all-academic team after a great finish to her senior season.
In her first year of being a head coach as well as guiding the program into its first year in the Atlantic 10, O'Leary did not disappoint as she brought her winning touch from UNC to Davidson and had a solid debut. She led the 'Cats to their most wins since 2010, going 12-10 overall on the season and finishing 3-2 in Atlantic 10 play. She led them to their first A-10 Tournament win with a 4-1 decision over St. Bonaventure to reach the quarterfinals. Davidson earned its first-ever A-10 regular season win over George Mason, a 6-1 victory at home, while picking up first-time wins in program history against Arkansas State and Saint Joseph's, while scoring a 4-1 victory against cross-county rival Charlotte.
The Wildcats opened the year strong, winning five of their first six matches, including running off a five-match win streak, which was also the longest since 2010, after falling to nationally-ranked Virginia Tech to open the season. Davidson also performed well on its home courts, going 8-4.
O'Leary saw her freshman class produce one of the most successful seasons in recent history. The quartet of Feaster, Todd, Ally Sexton and Cassidy Shell went a combined 47-19 in singles action and added another 28 victories in doubles. Feaster and Todd won 19 and 16 singles matches, respectively, and were each honored by the Atlantic 10. Feaster earned A-10 All-First Team and was named the league's rookie performer of the week three times. Todd was just as good, earning a spot on the league's second team with junior Elaina Cummer. She also took home a weekly award four different times. Todd's impressive season included a 16-match win streak, the longest since Kelsey Linville had a 13-match streak in 2005.
In addition, O'Leary's first year was also highlighted by a couple of prestigious honors. She was named to the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2015 in January. Then during the summer of 2015, O'Leary was one of four coaches picked to coach the USTA Collegiate National Team. She had the honor to coach Lamie Loeb and Brooke Austin, who finished the 2015 season nationally-ranked No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.
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O'Leary came to Davidson from a very successful program at North Carolina. During her four years as assistant coach, Anundsen helped the Tar Heels reach the NCAA Tournament all four years, including this past season when UNC reached its first national championship match before falling in a close 4-3 decision to UCLA.
In addition to capturing the 2014 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season title and finishing third in the ITA National Rankings, the Tar Heels posted a 29-6 record, which was one win shy of the program record set in 2010. O'Leary also coached four players this past year that received All-American honors, including the No. 1 player in the country, Jamie Loeb.
In her first year as an assistant, O'Leary helped the Tar Heels advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Junior Sanaz Marand earned All-America honors after advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA singles event. In addition, Marand and doubles partner Sophie Grabinski earned All-America honors for their play.
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The 2009-10 campaign was a new high for the program, as the Tar Heels advanced to the national semifinals for the first time in school history. O'Leary earned ITA Carolina Region Assistant Coach of the Year for her efforts as the Tar Heels finished with a school-record 30 wins and an ACC-record 11-0 mark in league play.
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The 2011 Tar Heels followed that up with a run to the national quarterfinals as well as the program's first ACC title since 2002. Three Carolina players earned All-America honors and O'Leary was named ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year after earning regional honors for the second straight season.
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As a player, Anundsen O'Learly, earned All-America honors in 2006 and 2007, and helped lead the Tar Heels to a pair of Sweet Sixteens and an Elite Eight. A native of Littleton, Colo., Anundsen O'Leary captured the 2007 NCAA doubles title after falling in the national semifinals in 2006. She and her playing partner finished the 2007 season 29-6 and were named ITA National Doubles Team Of The Year. By virtue of their NCAA title, Anundsen O'Leary and Long also earned a wild card berth into the 2007 U.S. Open.
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Anundsen O'Leary graduated from UNC with a degree in management and society in 2007. She twice was named to the Dean’s List and earned ACC Honor Roll honors three times, while being named to the ACC All-Academic Team twice. During her senior year, she was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III Team.
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| Year | W | L | T | Pct. | School (Conf. Record) |
| 2015 | 12 | 10 | 0 | .545 | Davidson (3-5 A-10) |
| 2016 | 18 | 5 | 0 | .782 | (6-0 A-10) |
| 2017 | 15 | 6 | 0 | .714 | (6-2 A-10) |
| Total | 45 | 21 | 0 | .682 | 3 years (15-7 A-10) |
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