Rick Ruso

Rick Ruso

  • Birth Date:
    10/13/1980
  • Height:
    6-1
  • Year:
    Senior
  • Hometown:
    Visalia, Calif.
  • High School:
    Redwood
  • College:
    4V
A four-time team captain...Ranks ninth in career combined doubles victories, with 40... earned first national doubles ranking in team history when he and partner Chris Lam began the 2002 season ranked 53rd by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association... graduated in June 2003 with an undergraduate degree in finance...currently pursuing an MBA at Santa Clara.

AS A SENIOR IN 2003-04: Voted team captain by his teammates for a fourth consecutive year... did not participate during tournament and match play due to injury... played an instrumental role in team and player development.

AS A JUNIOR IN 2002-03: Earned ITA All-Academic honors... saw limited time at the No. 4 and 5 positions, due to injury... played doubles in the No. 2 slot, with partners Michael Bruggemann, Federico Mattioli and Francisco Zepponi... clinched a 4-3 team victory at San Francisco with a thrilling three-set victory over Axel Elvik, 7-6, 3-6, 6-1.

AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2001-02: Made history with doubles partner Chris Lam as the duo began the season ranked 53rd by the ITA, marking the first national doubles ranking ever in the Bronco program... ranked ninth in the West Region doubles rankings... earned All-West Coast Conference honorable mention honors in doubles... his 12 victories with Lam tied for 10th place on the single-season doubles team victory list... his combined 17 doubles victories was good for ninth place on the single-season list... ... teamed with Erich Chen to upset the 43rd-ranked Nick Fustar and Dustin Illic of Fresno State... teamed with Lam to advance to the ITA Regional semifinal, posting victories over seeded teams from Fresno State and Washington... won the consolation doubles title with Lam at the Stockcoverage.com Classic... missed first seven dual matches of the season with an elbow injury... posted a 2-0 singles record in WCC dual match play.

AS A RS FRESHMAN IN 2000-01: Paired with Adam Lewis and played in the third doubles slot... went 7-5 on the season... with partner Michael Duong, won first five matches as a tandem... in singles play, clinched the Broncos' win over East Carolina at the Rice Invitational, topping his opponent 6-1, 6-7, 7-6.

AS A FRESHMAN IN 1999-2000: Won the doubles title with teammate Ryan Livesay at the Tiger Invitational in Stockton, Calif., during fall play... was forced to redshirt the season following the fall tournament season due to a back injury.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played for head coach Andy Parker at Redwood High School... was his team's captain for three years... was a section singles finalist and doubles champion as a sophomore.

PERSONAL: Full name is Richard Morgan Ruso... born October 13, 1980 in San Jose, Calif... parents are Rick and Beth Ruso... hobbies include waterskiing, golf and playing guitar... relative of Wyatt Earp... is the 29th member of his family to attend SCU... younger sister Kristen is a sophomore on the women's tennis team... graduated with a bachelor's degree in finance in June 2003 and is currently pursuing and MBA at Santa Clara.

Ruso's Career Statistics

YearSingles DualSingles OverallDoubles DualDoubles Overall
20000-12-60-24-3
20015-18-712-1014-15
20022-07-67-1217-15
20033-103-104-125-15
2004DNP---
Career10-1220-2923-3640-48

Getting to Know Rick

Favorite Athlete: Thomas Muster. He's an animal.
Favorite Pre-game Meal: Pasta!
Why did you choose Santa Clara? The coaching staff and the program's future.
Favorite aspect of SCU Athletics: The fire.
Favorite Place on the SCU campus: My garage.
What are your interests away from sports? Water skiing, guitar.
The biggest goal in your life is... to be a professional tennis player.
Few people know that you... are related to Wyatt Earp.
After your playing career is over, you'd like to be remembered as... an animal.