Nichols Claims ITA Summer Circuit Event Titles
7/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
July 19, 2011
PLANO, Texas - Incoming TCU sophomore Millie Nichols claimed the singles and doubles titles last weekend in an Intercollege Tennis Association Summer Circuit event at Collin County Community College.
The primary focus of the ITA Summer Circuit presented by the USTA is to provide incoming freshman and collegiate players the chance to compete in the summer months. However, each event on the circuit is open and any current ITA member is eligible to compete.
Nichols, who will be joining the Horned Frogs in the fall after spending a year at the University of Tennessee, won five singles matches in three days after receiving a bye in the round of 64 as the tournament's No. 5 seed.
"This is a great way for her to get confidence over the summer," TCU coach Dave Borelli said." I'm so excited she's coming to TCU. She has tremendous upside and ability. Not only do I do think she'll transcend into a great college player, she has the ability to be a great professional player as well."
The Austin, Texas, native got things started July 15 with her 6-0, 6-2 win over Samaria Mouton of Rice in the round of 32. Nichols advanced through the round of 16 on the morning of July 16 with a 6-1, 6-1 dismantling of Emily Conrad of Abilene Christian.
Nichols would go to three sets for the only time in the event that afternoon when she dropped the first set to second-seeded Irina Lykina of Oklahoma. Nichols bounced back in the next two sets and gutted out a marathon 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (14-12) win with a super-tiebreaker being played in place of a third set.
She followed on July 17 with a 6-1, 7-5 triumph over Kirsten Lewis in the semifinal round before knocking off Nicole Long, 6-3, 7-5, in the championship finals. Long is a blue-chip recruit who will be attending the University of Oklahoma in the fall. Long advanced to the finals after beating top-seeded Elizabeth Begley of Texas.
"It was good competing and getting back into the swing of things after a couple of injuries," Nichols said. "I've been working with a great coach and I've made a drastic improvement. It felt good to play and see my improvement. It was fun to be back on the court."
Nichols also joined Texas A&M's Sheri Oliver in doubles play to roll to the tournament title with wins in the championship quarterfinals and finals. Nichols and Oliver, the No. 2 seed, received a bye in the round of 16 then followed with an 8-3 over Arianne Goodard (Dallas Baptist) and Cassie Shaw (Nebraska-Kearney) in the quarterfinals.
The duo won by walkover in the championships semifinals when their opponents were forced to withdraw with injury before taking down No. 1-seeded Kally Alkire (Xavier) and Lykina (Oklahoma), 8-3, in the championship finals.
ITA Summer Circuit Event - Collin County Community College
SINGLES
Round of 64 - Bye
Round of 32 - #5 Millie Nichols (TCU) def. Samaria Mouton (Rice), 6-0, 6-2
Round of 16 - #5 Nichols def. Emily Conrad (Abilene Christian), 6-1, 6-1
Quarterfinals - #5 Nichols def. #2 Irina Lykina (Oklahoma), 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (14-12)
Semifinals - #5 Nichols def. Kirsten Lewis, 6-1, 7-5
Finals - #5 Nichols def. Nicole Long (Oklahoma), 6-3, 7-5
DOUBLES
Round of 16 - Bye
Quarterfinals - #2 Nichols/Sheri Olivier (Texas A&M) def. Arianne Goddard (Dallas Baptist)/Cassie Shaw (UN-Kearney), 8-3
Semifinals - #2 Nichols/Olivier def. Chelsea Horan (A&M-Corpus Christi)/Samantha Siegel (St. Edwards), Walkover
Finals -- #2 Nichols/Olivier def. #1 Kally Alkire (Xavier)/Irina Lykina (Oklahoma), 8-3
