Just last week, Virginia women’s tennis became the No. 1 team in the nation, an achievement never before earned in program history. To some, this surge to the top may seem sudden, even unexpected, but for this program, it has been years in the making. And at the center of it all is the coach who has transformed the program in under a decade.
When Coach Sara O’Leary took the helm June 12, 2017, the team was coming off a season in which it finished ranked No. 43. Almost eight years later, O’Leary has not only rebuilt the program but turned it into an ACC powerhouse and a national title contender. Her accolades speak for themselves — 2024 ACC Coach of the Year, two-time ITA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year and six NCAA Tournament appearances.
Under her leadership, the Cavaliers have consistently ascended into the top 10 of the rankings, reaching No. 9 in 2019-20 as well as a record-breaking No. 4 in 2021-22 before claiming the top spot now. They also set a record with a 25-win season in 2023-24. Yet, players say that O’Leary’s most telling impact goes beyond wins and rankings — it is the culture she has instilled in her players and the development she has fostered.
Her philosophy has been simple but effective — focus on daily improvements rather than just long-term results. The success has been no accident. O’Leary inherited a struggling program and implemented a structured, player-centric development plan.
Former Virginia star Natasha Subhash, who played under O’Leary from 2019 to 2024, credits the coaching staff’s emphasis on player development for her own growth.
“The coaches, led by Coach O’Leary, prioritized player development above all else,” Subhash said in an interview. “For me, one of the biggest things that set U.Va. apart, and the coaches especially, was that they created this developmental plan for me as a recruit.”
This commitment to individual progress has resulted in 16 All-American honors during O’Leary’s tenure — more than in the program’s entire history before her arrival.
A prime example of O’Leary’s developmental expertise is Virginia alumna Emma Navarro, who won the 2021 NCAA Singles Championship under her guidance. Navarro’s dominance on the national stage cemented O’Leary’s reputation as a coach who could not only recruit top talent but also elevate it to elite status.
The impact of O’Leary’s approach is also evident in the team’s rise through the rankings and its consistent deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. In 2022, Virginia reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2016, a feat it repeated in 2024 while securing an ACC regular-season co-title.
Just as important as the developmental expertise she’s passed onto individual players, O’Leary has fostered an environment that emphasizes unity, teamwork and resilience. Her teams have developed a reputation for their close-knit culture, where lifting each other up is paramount.
“I think the biggest thing is just focusing on the culture first,” O’Leary said after the Georgia Tech match Feb. 23. “That's just what we always go back to. We're not super focused on the wins and the losses, just making sure we're doing the little things well and better every single day.”
According to Subhash, this culture is a defining aspect of the program.
“In all my five years, we never had a problem with lineup disputes,” Subhash said. “Every single person on the team — no matter what you played or if you played at all — everyone mattered equally.”
Senior Elaine Chervinsky exemplified this camaraderie during the team’s ACC opener against Clemson Feb. 21. Though sidelined due to injury, she remained on court alongside her doubles partner, senior Melodie Collard, and Collard’s temporary partner, freshman Isabelle Lacy, for the entirety of their match. Collard and Lacy were struggling to gain the upper hand, and Chervinsky provided unwavering support, offering encouragement and strategic advice, fully engaged despite being unable to compete in such an exciting match.
Another pillar of O’Leary’s healthy culture is the program’s emphasis on leadership. Players are encouraged to take ownership of their improvement and to inspire those around them. One such player, graduate student Sara Ziodato, was recently named ACC Player of the Week, a recognition O’Leary attributes to her dedication and leadership.
“I think we have great leadership with Sara Ziodato and Nicole Kiefer,” O’Leary said Feb. 23. “They've been amazing leaders this spring … showing the younger players, this is how we do things, just the sacrifices they've made, they're just so committed.”
This type of culture is not only crucial in tennis but is difficult to achieve. Matches have a tendency to feel very individual, and it is easy to feel like you are competing with your teammates. A team-first mentality is also crucial during tight matches, where a close bond can combat the high-pressure environment.
One hallmark of O’Leary’s teams has been their dominance in doubles play. The 2022-23 season, for instance, saw two Virginia doubles teams ranked in the top 10 nationally. Graduate student Julia Adams and senior Mélodie Collard reached the NCAA doubles semifinals, tying the program’s best-ever finish, while Subhash and Chervinsky peaked at No. 3 in the national rankings.
O’Leary’s approach to doubles is meticulous, pairing players based on complementary styles and honing their chemistry through rigorous practice.
“I think there's so much strategy that goes along with it. I think figuring out who they partner well with personality wise, game style wise, makes a huge difference,” O’Leary said. “I think we're just a team that loves playing doubles.”
That makes sense given O’Leary’s history. She won the 2007 NCAA doubles title as a senior at North Carolina. That was part of a career that included All-America honors in 2006 and 2007.
O’Leary spent six years as an assistant coach at North Carolina after that, helping guide the Tar Heels to their first NCAA final and developing multiple All-Americans. As a head coach, she led Davidson to three consecutive winning seasons, earning Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors before coming to Virginia.
With back-to-back NCAA quarterfinal appearances and a deep, talented roster, the Cavaliers are poised for even greater heights. O’Leary’s ability to recruit players like Subhash and develop players, coupled with her strategic acuity, suggests that an NCAA championship could be within reach.
But for O’Leary, the goal remains the same — continuous, daily improvement.
“The culture that the coaches built was something to fall back on,” Subhash said. “ … Whenever we would have a couple tough results, it was never a fear of ours that we wouldn't ever get it back.”
Under her leadership, Virginia women’s tennis is not just relevant — it has become a force to be reckoned with. And with O’Leary at the helm, the best may still be yet to come.
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