Marcy Hora-Cava - Women's Tennis Coach - Florida Atlantic University Athletics

Photo by: ©JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

Marcy Hora-Cava

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
mcava@fau.edu
Phone:
561-843-1806

Marcy Hora-Cava moved to assistant coach after leading the Florida Atlantic University women's tennis program for 11 seasons tallying 113 wins (10.3 wins per season). She relinquished the helm after returning the Owls to a national rank in 2019. Hora-Cava assumed the helm of the Florida Atlantic University women’s tennis team in 2008-09. Since that time, the Boca Raton native has continually sought ways to grow the FAU women’s tennis program. She was instrumental in bringing both the men’s and women’s programs back to campus after the two teams played off-campus at a local tennis club for a decade.

After just one season on the new courts, Hora-Cava welcomed Aliona Bolsova to FAU. The Owls saw Bolsova quickly climb the national rankings finishing as a semifinalist in fall national competition and ending her sophomore collegiate regular season, just a few months later, as the nation’s No. 2 player heading into postseason play. Bolsova declined the NCAA postseason invite to begin professional play right away, but in just one season, the Paladrugell, Spain native, put the Owls on the map as a league and national contender.

Hora-Cava’s tenure at FAU has held consistent with a winning tradition both in and out of the classroom. The 2016 squad saw three players earn Scholar-Athlete honors. That same season Bianca Biglione was named to the Academic All-District 4 All-Academic Team, which preceded honors as FAU’s 2016 Academic Achievement honoree and a Conference USA All-Academic award.

The Owls’ best season on the court, record-wise, came in 2014-15 with a 12-6 overall mark. One year later, FAU matched that win total of 12 wins, with a 12-8 record in 2015-16. The most wins FAU has accumulated under Hora-Cava is 13, which came in 2010-11, against 12 losses.

Hora-Cava played an instrumental role in the doubles tandem of Marlene Ryan and Justine Humair earning All-Conference honors in 2011. The duo posted a 9-4 record together and was one of three doubles teams to have a winning record.

Prior to FAU, Hora-Cava served six years as a tactical police officer for the Boca Raton Police Department. Hora-Cava's experience as a tennis coach included working with PAL, as well as at the Meadow Club in Southampton, New York and the Boca Raton Resort & Club. Along with her FAU duties, Hora-Cava also serves at the tennis Director at the Seagate Tennis Center in Delray Beach, Fla.

Hora-Cava’s background as a player is a distinguished one. She competed internationally playing in nine countries and 20 states and was a member of the University of Miami tennis team. While at UM (1998-2002), Hora-Cava was a two-time Big East champion, a NCAA participant, and served as the 2001 team captain. Hora-Cava earned her Bachelor of Science degree in communications where she had a double emphasis in criminology and photography.

Prior to her time at UM, Hora-Cava held national rankings since the age of 12 in both singles and doubles. She held a top-three Florida rank and a top-30 national ranking throughout those years as well. Hora-Cava was honored as the Palm Beach Post and Sun Sentinel Player of the Year and was named the "Player of the Month" numerous times.

In 2017-18, Hora Cava welcomed home her sister Caroline Wheelen, a former FAU women's head coach as an assistant to the FAU tennis team. The duo are the only known coaching team in all of NCAA athletics, but that is not where their tennis instruction ends. Like Hora-Cava, Wheelen also provides tennis expertise serving a a pro at The Seagate Tennis Center in Delray Beach, Fla.

She was born and raised in the Boca Raton/Delray Beach area and is married to Matthew Cava. The couple has two sons, Paxton and Max. Cava is multilingual and is fluent in Czech.

Hora-Cava Year-by-Year Results

Season	Record	Win Percentage
2008-09	7-17	.292
2009-10	9-11	.450
2010-11	13-12	.520
2011-12	11-9	.555
2012-13	8-10	.444
2013-14	10-11	.476
2014-15	11-6	.667
2015-16	12-9	.571
2016-17	11-11	.500
2017-18	11-8	.548
2018-19	10-8	.556
Total	112-112	.500