Nicole Robbins, 19, of Rio Hondo College, officially signed her National Letter of Intent Nov. 10 and will be continuing her academic and athletic career playing tennis at Ottawa University in Kansas next Fall.

Robbins played varsity tennis for South Hills High School in West Covina for four years before coming to Rio Hondo immediately after and has been playing at Rio for her past two years attending the college.

“It hasn’t really hit me yet, but I know it’s going to be a new and exciting experience to play tennis for Ottawa University” said Robbins.

Phil McClintock is the Interim Head Coach of the women’s tennis team at Ottawa University, this was his first year as the head coach of the team and he will finish out the fall season while the search for a permanent coach continues.

One major difference between tennis in California and tennis in Kansas is the fact that the sport is played indoors in Kansas due to snowy weather conditions as opposed to outdoors in California, where the sun shines almost 365 days a year.

“I’ve never played indoor tennis, and it’s all indoor in Ottawa because it snows during their regular season” said Robbins regarding the change of courts she will encounter.

This is something that a few former Rio Hondo College athletes have had to adjust to coming from a warmer state like California, but the exposure to different playing conditions makes for a great and new learning experience.

Ottawa University has recruited Rio Hondo College athletes in the past few years, with both women’s soccer and volleyball players transferring there to continue their academic and athletic careers as well.

Robbins will finish off her studies at Rio Hondo College and will play tennis next spring when the season starts before she transfers to Ottawa University in Fall 2017 where she will compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.

After two great years at Rio Hondo College, Robbins said “I’m really sad to be leaving Rio Hondo, but this school definitely has prepared me for the next level.”