University of Massachusets Athletics
Photo by: Stew Milne
Buss Joins Massachusetts Tennis As Graduate Assistant Coach
September 13, 2022 | Tennis
Former SMU standout named to Juancarlos Nunez’s staff.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts tennis head coach Juancarlos Nunez announced the hiring of Elizaveta "Liza" Buss as a graduate assistant coach on Tuesday. Buss joins the Minutewomen following a stint as a graduate assistant coach with the women's tennis team at Providence College.
"I'm excited to welcome Liza to our UMass family," said Nunez. "She comes from a tennis family with both her mother and grandfather being tennis coaches. She joins our program with great experience as both a player and coach. She had a great impact on the student-athletes at Providence College and I know she will do the same for our group of young women here at UMass. In getting to know her, it's clear how passionate, committed, and hard-working she is. She will bring a lot to our team."
Prior to her time with the Friars, Buss graduated from SMU, where she competed for the Mustangs for three seasons. During her junior season with the women's tennis program in 2017-18, she reached the Round of 16 at the ITA Regional Championships and defeated a ranked opponent in straight sets at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships.
As a sophomore, Buss advanced to the Round of 32 at the ITA Regional Championships in the fall season. After the 2016-17 season, she earned All-American Athletic Conference honors, ITA Scholar-Athlete accolades and was a member of the All-American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.
Buss played at Iowa State her freshman season, where she was selected to the All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Freshman Team in the spring of 2016. In the fall of 2015, she landed on the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. The Togliatti, Russia, native, posted one of the best rookie seasons in school history, finishing with a 49-19 overall record, including a 23-8 record in singles action, tying for fourth-most overall single-season wins. Buss was the only player in school history with at least 22 wins and fewer than 10 losses, as well.
Before college, Buss held the top sectional/state ranking from 2012 to 2014 in the 14U and 16U divisions, while ranking second in the 18U division in 2015. She was ranked among the top five in 2012, top-10 in 2013 and 2014, and in the top-50 in 2015. She had a career high ITF Junior Ranking of 286 in 2014 and won the ITF G4 18U doubles in the same year. Buss also was a 2013 ITF G3 18U singles runner-up and a runner-up in 18U doubles in the Russian National Championship.
"I'm excited to welcome Liza to our UMass family," said Nunez. "She comes from a tennis family with both her mother and grandfather being tennis coaches. She joins our program with great experience as both a player and coach. She had a great impact on the student-athletes at Providence College and I know she will do the same for our group of young women here at UMass. In getting to know her, it's clear how passionate, committed, and hard-working she is. She will bring a lot to our team."
Prior to her time with the Friars, Buss graduated from SMU, where she competed for the Mustangs for three seasons. During her junior season with the women's tennis program in 2017-18, she reached the Round of 16 at the ITA Regional Championships and defeated a ranked opponent in straight sets at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships.
As a sophomore, Buss advanced to the Round of 32 at the ITA Regional Championships in the fall season. After the 2016-17 season, she earned All-American Athletic Conference honors, ITA Scholar-Athlete accolades and was a member of the All-American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.
Buss played at Iowa State her freshman season, where she was selected to the All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Freshman Team in the spring of 2016. In the fall of 2015, she landed on the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. The Togliatti, Russia, native, posted one of the best rookie seasons in school history, finishing with a 49-19 overall record, including a 23-8 record in singles action, tying for fourth-most overall single-season wins. Buss was the only player in school history with at least 22 wins and fewer than 10 losses, as well.
Before college, Buss held the top sectional/state ranking from 2012 to 2014 in the 14U and 16U divisions, while ranking second in the 18U division in 2015. She was ranked among the top five in 2012, top-10 in 2013 and 2014, and in the top-50 in 2015. She had a career high ITF Junior Ranking of 286 in 2014 and won the ITF G4 18U doubles in the same year. Buss also was a 2013 ITF G3 18U singles runner-up and a runner-up in 18U doubles in the Russian National Championship.
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