Oct. 26, 2001

Madison, Wis. - Nicole Derouin is proving a lot of people wrong at the 2001 Omni Hotels ITA Midwest Regional Tennis Championships.

Derouin, who was left out of the main draw of the championship despite posting a career best 22 singles wins last year and owning a 5-1 record this season, is now 2-0 in qualifying action and is just one win away from earning a spot in the main draw.

The junior captain opened the tournament on Thursday by knocking off 8th-seeded Amalia Lincaru of Eastern Michigan in a three set thriller, 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4. She then advanced to the round of 16 by taking out Iowa's Gloria Okino in straight sets 6-2, 6-2.

Derouin will now meet Northern Iowa's Kylene Wong on Friday morning with the winner advancing to the main draw of the tournament. Wong and Derouin have already squared off earlier this season with Derouin taking the match 6-3, 6-2 in the opening round of the Bowling Green Invitational on Sept. 29.

With the two wins, Derouin has extended her season-best winning streak to six as she now sits at 7-1 on the year. Her career best winning streak is seven, set last season.

In other action on Friday, sophomore Ayca Gumuscu fell to third-seeded Katie Dougherty of host Wisconsin 6-4, 6-2 in her opening qualifying draw match. Gumuscu did rally in the back draw, though, advancing in the tournament with a 5-7, 6-3, (10-4) tie-breaker win over Viviana Rivero of Toledo.

Derouin and Gumuscu will team up to represent UIC on Friday evening in the main draw of the doubles tournament. The duo opens versus Field and Radel of Indiana at 4:00 p.m.