MEET OUR GRADUATES: Dayna Reilly Makes Tennis History at RIC

Dayna Reilly is one of the greatest women’s tennis student-athletes in Rhode Island College history. 

During the 2017-18 campaign, the team recorded a perfect 16-0 record and was 8-0 in the Little East Conference (LEC). This season, the Anchorwomen made history by earning their first-ever bid to the NCAA Division III National Championship. In the opening round, on May 11, they scored a 5-2 win over Nazareth. In the second round, on May 12, the team fell to Tufts, finishing the season with a 17-1 overall record.

Reilly admitted that going into a championship match can give you the case of the nerves, particularly for young players. This year, the team had nine freshmen out of 14 players – all great players, Reilly said. As team captain, she encouraged her teammates to simply trust in their skill.

“I handle fear by knowing that I’ve been taught everything I need to know,” said Reilly who holds a quiet confidence. “I’ve played so much tennis in my life. I’ve played with great people. I’ve had such great supports. Knowing this, and going out there and playing like I should, I believe everything will be fine.”

Reilly began playing tennis at the age of four. She went on to play for LaSalle Academy and then transferred to RIC from Endicott College after one semester in order to enroll in RIC’s nursing program. At RIC, Reilly also joined the Women’s Tennis team. In the three years she’s been at the college, the Anchorwomen have posted a remarkable 41-5 overall record, they’ve won three straight Little East Conference Regular Season Championships and this year’s LEC Tournament Championship. 

Yet Reilly has not set her sights on becoming a tennis pro. Her goal is to be a medical esthetician. Esthetics, she explained, is a method of enhancing natural beauty through facials, makeup, waxing, laser hair removal and eyelash extensions. She completed a three-month program at the Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics in Massachusetts right after high school and became licensed; however, by combining her nursing degree with esthetics, she will become a licensed “medical esthetician,” providing more intensive treatments such as microneedling, botox procedures and laser therapy. Reilly has already landed a job in the field at The Finery in Boston.

As for tennis, Reilly said, “I would love to do more with it in the future. I’m leaning toward coaching, especially coaching a college team. And I’ll definitely come back to RIC and hit with the girls.”

For her scholastic success and her achievements as an athlete, Reilly was honored with the Scholar Athlete Award by the R.I. House of Representatives for three consecutive years. At RIC she earned the Helen M. Murphy Award and the Women’s Athletics All-40th Anniversary Tennis Team Award for her significant contribution to RIC athletics. She was also named Little East Conference Player of the Year for two straight seasons as well as Most Valuable Player and Most Outstanding Player.

“It’s incredible to be recognized for doing something that I love,” Reilly said. “I’ve really enjoyed playing tennis, especially here at RIC. The team and the coaches have been great. I’m glad that I’ve been able to have an impact.”​