"Nicki has the heart of a lion. She loves to compete, and it doesn't matter what it looks like, she is going to find a way to win. With her work ethic and determination, her best tennis is still ahead of her." --Coach Bobby Kleinecke

A self-driven and hard working competitor who knows how to win…Knowing where to hit the ball and her ability to place it are her biggest strengths…Has an effective return and has worked hard to make her serve more of a weapon… A confident player who is very dedicated to the sport…Has made tremendous progress in both her singles and doubles games, is expected to once again play a major role in the team's success.

2002-03 (FRESHMAN): Made an immediate impact by winning 10 of her first 11 singles matches in dual competition to earn Big 12 Player of the Week honors…Went on to become the Big 12 champion at No. 5 singles with a 10-1 record…Earned the team's P.D. Gandy Award for most wins and ranked fifth in the A&M all-time season records with a 30-9 overall mark…Went 25-5 in dual action, going 21-5 at No. 5 and 4-0 at No. 4 singles…Had two seven-match winning streaks…Was 20-17 in doubles matches for the full year, including 7-4 at No. 3 in Big 12 matches…Paired with Danielle Lee beginning April 4 and went 6-2 to close out the season, including a dramatic 9-7 victory at Texas after being down 7-5.

HIGH SCHOOL: Captured the Texas high school 4A singles title in both 2000 and 2002…Was a four-time district champion and three-time regional champion for the Lady Billies…Ranked No. 2 in the USTA Texas Section in 18s for two years and was a 2002 USTA Texas Sectional finalist…Received the Texas Sportsmanship Award, as well as the Mary Lowden Award for sportsmanship, citizenship and leadership…Most memorable moment of prep athletic career was defeating her sister, Marisa, in the finals of the state high school tournament.

PERSONAL: Nicole Colette Mechem is the daughter of Richard and Nicole Mechem…Has three younger sisters who all play tennis: Marisa, who is a freshman on the University of Denver tennis team, Richelle and Lindsay…Also has three older half sisters -- Erin, Adry and Madeline -- and two older half brothers -- Rod and Daryl…Was a member of Who's Who for three years, as well as Who's Who In Women's Athletics at Fredericksburg High School and served as treasurer of the Bike club…Was a national Verizon essay contest winner and graduated in the top 10 percent of her class…Hobbies include writing, watching Saturday Night Live, eating chocolate, making up really bad dance moves and working with kids…Began playing tennis at the age of four…Most memorable moment of A&M career was the match at Texas when she and Danielle Lee came back to win their match to help the Aggies win the doubles point and then clinching the match in singles followed by singing "The Aggie War Hymn" with the A&M fans…Is involved in numerous student organizations, including serving as a Fish Camp counselor for Camp Boyle…Also is a member of Aggie Athletes Involved and serves as the chair of Red Ribbon Week…In addition, is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and serves as a HOSTS volunteer…Is a Texas A&M/Verizon Scholar Athlete majoring in English…Career ambition is to work for a tennis magazine and write feature articles on professional tennis players…Born November 8, 1983, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

MECHEM UP CLOSE
My best memory from last season… Riding back to the airport in Kansas and finding out we won the Big 12 title.
The part of the game of tennis that I like the most… The fact that it's just you out there and you're either going to do it or you're not and on the person who is willing to gut out every point is going to succeed. Oh yeah, I also like it when I'm that person and I win.
If I could tell my incoming teammates one thing, it would be… If you put everything on the line and give it everything you have everyday and do it with a good attitude you will give yourself the opportunity to have one of the greatest experiences of your lifetime.
Being at A&M has taught me… Life is so much better when you live it for others and how to get stains out of white clothes.
The person I would like to switch places with for a day… Mandy Moore
I'm superstitious about… Home match day-I have to eat a yogurt parfait from McDonald's, watch MTV cribs and curl my hair.
If I could be any superhero, I would be… Kati Jo Spisak
Favorite sport to play other than tennis… soccer
Favorite Aggie tradition… Fish Camp and the Aggie Band
Favorite vacation spot is… The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs