Harrison Crowned Tuscaloosa ITA Summer Circuit Singles Champion
July 20, 2015 | Women's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Continuing her stellar summer play, incoming Mississippi State women's tennis transfer Madison Harrison captured her second singles title on the ITA Summer Circuit on Monday, winning the Tuscaloosa Open singles championship.
Harrison, the region's fifth seed, reeled in five victories to capture her second singles title of the summer, including defeating the region's top two seeds. Harrison also saw success in doubles play, teaming up with Oklahoma's Christiana Brigante to reach the championship match.
"Some of the top college players play the ITA Summer Circuit events and Madison's title runs in Tallahassee and Tuscaloosa are very impressive," MSU coach Daryl Greenan said. "She has picked up wins against some accomplished players and I am extremely excited to have her join our team this fall."
The incoming sophomore dominated her road to the finals, winning her first four matches in straight sets. Receiving a first round bye, Harrison kicked off play against Concordia's Johanna Keeline, winning 6-0, 6-2. Harrison then moved on to face Georgetown's Liselot Koenen, picking up a 6-1, 6-1 victory to advance to the quarterfinals.
Harrison notched a 6-2, 6-0 win against Eastern Illinois' Grace Summers to land in a semifinal showdown against Alabama's Maya Jansen, the region's top seed. Facing a daunting task, Harrison continued her tear through the singles draw, punching her ticket to the championship match with a 6-2, 6-4 win.
The tourney's second seed, Caroline Brinson from Georgia, pushed Harrison to her only three-set match of the weekend. Harrison picked up a 7-6(4) first set win, but was pushed to a third when Brinson came back with a 6-4 second set victory. The two would play a third-set super tiebreaker, which Harrison would dominate, picking up a 7-6(4), 4-6, 1-0(3) victory to seal her second title of the summer.
In doubles play, Brigante and Harrison, the fourth seed in the region as a duo, picked up a pair of 8-3 wins against Claire DeGeorge and Grace Summers in the round of 16 and Alexandra Baer and Liselot Koenen in the quarterfinals.
The duo advanced to the week's championship match by taking down the top doubles team of Brinson and Jansen in a tight 8-6 decision. However, Harrison would be stopped just short of sweeping the weekend, as the tandem fell 8-3 to Megen Cochran and Erin Mills.
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MSU Results At The ITA Summer Circuit – Tuscaloosa Open
June 18-20, 2015 – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Singles – Main Draw
Second Round – Madison Harrison (MSU) [5] def. Johanna Keeline (Concordia) 6-0, 6-2
Round of 16 – Harrison (MSU) [5] def. Liselot Koenen (Georgetown) 6-1, 6-1
Quarterfinals – Harrison (MSU) [5] def. Grace Summers (E. Illinois) 6-2, 6-0
Semifinals – Harrison (MSU) [5] def. Maya Jansen (Alabama) [1] 6-2, 6-4
Finals – Harrison (MSU) [5] def. Caroline Brinson (Georgia) [2] 7-6(4), 4-6, 1-0(3)
Doubles – Main Draw
Round of 16 – Christiana Brigante/Harrison [4] def. Claire DeGeorge/Grace Summers 8-3
Quarterfinals – Brigante/Harrison [4] def. Alexandra Baer/Liselot Koenen 8-3
Semifinals – Brigante/Harrison [4] def. Brinson/Jansen [1] 8-6
Finals – Megen Cochran/Erin Mills def. Brigante/Harrison [4] 8-3