Winthrop women’s tennis star closes out summer with ITA tourney championship
Women’s tennis standout Lauren Proctor wraps up summer with ITA tournament championship
Winthrop University junior Lauren Proctor won the 2017 ITA National Summer Championships, the final tournament of the ITA Summer Circuit, held at Texas Christian University Aug. 12-15, 2017.
“I can't say how happy I am to be representing Winthrop and then also to be successful for Winthrop -it's the greatest joy I've ever had and I love it so much,” Proctor said after the win.
Seeded fourth, the 2017 Big South Conference player of the year dropped just one set en route to the title, including a hard-fought win over the No. 1 seed, Kaitlyn McCarthy of Duke (4-6, 7-5, 10-4). Proctor won the championship match 6-2, 6-3 over Donika Bashota of TCU.
With the victory, Proctor, who was 22-2 for the Eagles last season, earns a wild card to the 2017 Riviera/ITA Women's All-American Championships at Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. in October, her second trip to the Golden State this coming fall.
“I'm really looking forward to it. California is really beautiful and to be playing against the best players in the nation is what I work hard for,” Proctor said. “It's very motivating and very rewarding for me.”
Winthrop women’s soccer opens 2017 season
The Winthrop women’s soccer team kicks off its 2017 campaign this weekend with a home contest Friday at 7 p.m. against Kennesaw State and a road contest Sunday at Alabama A&M.
Spencer Smith’s Eagles are looking to rebound from a tough 2016 season that saw the team finish 4-12-1 overall and 1-7-1 in the Big South.
Leading the squad
Seniors Zoe Conover and Courtney McLeod were picked to captain the Eagles this year. Conover and McLeod have both been consistent presences for the Eagles over the last three years and will lead a relatively young Eagle squad with only six upperclassmen.
Returners to watch
Keeley Leising scored a third of the team’s goals last year and her scoring threat will be needed again up front. In the midfield, Allie Thomas and Lauren Kelly return to patrol centrally. And the Eagles’ defense should have a strong cohesion; Conover and McLeod will be joined by JoJo Taylor and Dylan Patterson.
Sophomore Kelly Horan will be the Eagles’ starter in goal. While technically a returner, Horan saw only 18 minutes in goal last season as she battled against two senior goalies.
Newcomers ready for action
Arryana Daniels, a defender from Wilmington, Del., has had some strong performances through the preseason and is expected to provide some backup and maybe battle for a starting spot in the defense.
In the midfield, Izzy Barton and Megan Loveland will both be considered as strong options to fill out Smith’s midfield lineup.
Katie Colwick, an in-state product from Simpsonville, has shown an ability to make plays happen up top and will try to pick up Leising’s freshman scoring ways from last season.
This story was originally published August 17, 2017 at 4:06 PM with the headline "Winthrop women’s tennis star closes out summer with ITA tourney championship."