A FIGHTING tie-breaker win and praise from her coach, Grace Schumacher's debut as a member of the South Florida University Bulls was one which impressed.
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Schumacher only had limited preparation with her team-mates prior to their season opener and it was a stern test as she and her fellow Bulls came up against the ninth-ranked Florida State.
Though her doubles match was left unfinished - stopped when it was locked at 3-all - Bulls number four Schumacher shone in her singles contest.
Drawn to play British talent Victoria Allen, who was a doubles quarter-finalist at Junior Wimbledon in 2018, Schumacher was definitely the underdog.
Allen, who is currently ranked 106th by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, won the first set 6-3.
But Eglinton Tennis Club star Schumacher responded to win the second 6-4 and force a tie-breaker. She then won that 10-7.
It was the only victory of the clash for the Bulls, who ended up going down to Florida State 6-1.
"For Grace Schumacher to get her first college win against a top 10 team shows how much of a bright future she has for the Bulls," Bulls head coach Cristina Moros said.
"We knew Grace was a tough competitor when we recruited her, we knew she was a very hard worker, that was definitely proven in practice the last couple of weeks.
"But you never really know what you're going to get until your freshman is out there competing against a top 10 team in the country, what they're made of. If this was any indication of what that girl can accomplish, you know, she's going to go far for us in the next four years.
"She just competed her butt off really. She lost the first set, but found a way to kinda dig in, dig her heels in and say that she's not going away against a ranked player too.
"So I mean for her to be able to do that and come out with a victory - that was a big moment for us and a sign of what's to come I think."
Schumacher now faces a double-header against Alabama and Auburn.
