The Longhorns’ impressive three-month individual fall tournament season finally comes to a close this weekend as the team will split up and begin play this weekend on opposite coasts.
Texas is represented by freshman phenomenon Aeriel Ellis at the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships in New Haven, Conn., while the rest of the team begins play today at the Duals in the Desert in Palm Springs, Calif.
Tournament play began Thursday for Ellis as she faced Kristi Boxx of Mississippi in the first round of women’s singles matches. She is one of 32 players competing in the tournament’s singles draw. Despite falling to Boxx in straight sets, 6-4 and 6-3, Ellis will have a chance to bounce back from her loss in today’s mandatory consolation draw.
Ellis sealed her bid to the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships with a remarkable run at the ITA Texas Regional Championships in late October. Her solid play led her to the finals of the main singles draw, which she won in straight sets. As the team’s newest addition, Ellis already holds a stellar 15-8 singles record.
Meanwhile, the remainder of the team is on the West Coast facing some of the nation’s top collegiate programs at the Duals in the Desert, played at the Moore Tennis Academy. Both singles and doubles draws full of some of the nation’s best players make up the tournament.
Following this weekend, the Longhorns enjoy a two-month break between their fall and spring seasons. The team will resume play mid-January at the Georgia Invitational in Athens, Ga., and will face Rice in its first regular season match Jan. 23.
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