Nov. 6, 2004

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - USC women's tennis freshman Nicole Leimbach (Colorado Springs, Colo.) made the most of her first opportunity on the national stage. The first-year standout won three matches to advances to the semifinals of the ITA National Indoor Championships held at the Varsity Tennis Center on the Michigan campus.

As the third ITA national championship of the Fall playing season, players advanced by reaching the final rounds at either the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships or Icy Hot/ITA Regional Championship during the month of October. Leimbach and fellow freshman Lindsey Nelson (Villa Park, Calif.) both qualified to represent the Women of Troy.

Unfortunately, Nelson's tournament ended quickly, falling to 17th-ranked Erin Burdette of Stanford in the opening round on Thursday, Nov. 4. Panova won the match-up in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4.

Leimbach got past eighth-ranked Daria Panova of Oregon, 6-4, 6-1, in the first round, then defeated Audra Cohen of Northwestern, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, in the Round of 16 on Thursday. With a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory over No. 44 Gitte Ostermann of Nebraska in Friday's Quarterfinal, Leimbach moved into the semis to face second-ranked Megan Bradley of Miami. Bradley, the tournament's third seed, proved too tough for Leimbach, taking the match 6-4, 6-2.

Bradley will face Suzi Babos of California on Sunday for the singles championship.

Complete tournament results can be found at www.itatennis.com.

ITA National Indoor Championship
Ann Arbor, Mich. * Nov. 4-7, 2004

First Round (Nov. 4)
Nicole Leimbach (USC) def. #8 Daria Panova (Oregon) - 6-4, 6-1
#17 Erin Burdette (Stanford) def. Lindsey Nelson (USC) - 6-1, 6-4

Round of 16 (Nov. 4)
Nicole Leimbach (USC) def. Audra Cohen (NWestern) - 3-6, 7-5, 6-4

Semifinals (Nov. 6)
#2 Megan Bradley (Miami) def. Nicole Leimbach (USC) - 6-4, 6-2