Lilly Kimbell faced a bigger, stronger opponent in the Girls 18 semifinal round Wednesday at the Texas Summer Grand Slam. That will be the case again in the championship match, which Kimbell reached with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Millie Nichols.

Kimbell, a three-time UIL state champion, survived a ragged match on a hot, windy afternoon at the Mitchell Tennis Center. The slender 5-foot-5 Kimbell proved tough enough to overcome Nichols' harder serve and big forehand, the most powerful shot for either player.

"Some girls can obviously hit the ball harder if they're bigger, but I can move the ball around," Kimbell said. "That's how I try to play, be consistent and mix it up. I try not to go for too much."

Kimbell, 17, lives in New Braunfels and trains at the John Newcombe Tennis Academy. Kimbell beat A&M Consolidated's Anik Cepeda to capture her third consecutive UIL state title this spring. She also reached the finals of three USTA national tournaments this year, winning a national open event last month.

Going into her senior year of high school,Kimbell is considered one of the top recruits in the country. Kimbell said she has no idea where she will play college tennis, but she is considering North Carolina, Texas, Duke, Georgia Tech and UCLA.

Texas A&M assistant coach Mark Weaver watched Kimbell and Nichols, along with the semifinal on an adjacent court between Elizabeth Begley of Houston and Megan Horter of Southlake. Third-seeded Begley won 6-3, 6-1 to earn a shot at No. 2 seed Kimbell in the title match at noon Thursday.

Although none of Kimbell's shots were flashy, she displayed solid ground strokes and came up with several timely passing shots on a day when both players were unable to find a groove. Kimbell showed the effects after playing a three-set singles match and a tough doubles match Tuesday.

"I tried really hard, but today was just a grind," Kimbell said. "Hopefully I won't play that way tomorrow. I was not moving out there. I should have been ready today. There's no excuse for that.

"It was not the greatest match. We both didn't play very well. I guess it doesn't matter if you're playing bad or good. You just have to go out there and find a way to win."

Kimbell's victory hinged on a hold of service late in each set. Nichols had a chance to get back on serve in the opening set, but Kimbell fought off a break point and survived three deuces to take a 5-2 lead.

Nichols, a senior-to-be from Joshua, became more aggressive in the second set. Going for more on her first serve and attacking the net more often, Nichols won the first two games. After Kimbell pulled even, Nichols held serve to take a 4-3 lead and set up the biggest game of the match.

Kimbell trailed 0-40 as she served in the next game, but she won five consecutive points to take the game. Nichols missed on three chances to grab a 5-3 lead.

"I hadn't been serving well the whole match, but I got that one first serve in and I felt like somehow the momentum changed," Kimbell said. "You have to stay in the match no matter what. If they start making errors, it could turn around right away."

The missed opportunity seemed to sap Nichols, who had a couple of double-faults while being broken in the next game. Kimbell held serve to finish the 1-hour, 28-minute match.

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NOTES -- College Station's Anik Cepeda, the last player from the Brazos Valley left in the tournament, rallied to win two consolation matches in Girls 18 on Wednesday. Cepeda dropped the first set and then survived third-set super tiebreakers in both matches. She beat Samantha Adams of New Braunfels 2-6, 6-4, (10-5), then outlasted Kimberly Anicete of Spring 1-6, 7-5, (10-2). Cepeda will play BrettEllen Keeler of Bee Cave in the consolation final at 9:20 a.m. Thursday. ... Other championship singles finals set for Thursday are Teal Vosburgh vs. Kenna Kilgo in Girls 16, Peggy Porter vs. Brittany Brewster in Girls 14, and William Jou vs. Christian Vieira in Boys 14. ... Shane Vinsant knocked off a second consecutive UT signee when he beat Daniel Whitehead 6-7 (5), 7-5 (retired, ill), to reach the Boys 18 semifinals. The 15-year-old Vinsant will face another Longhorn recruit when he plays top seed Benjamin Chen at 1:20 p.m. Thursday. The Boys 18 final is scheduled for noon Friday.