TCU Women’s Tennis Downs SMU
{fshare id=3662}
DALLAS – The TCU women’s tennis team was a 4-3 winner Wednesday over crosstown rival SMU at Northwood Club, an off-campus facility used by the Mustangs.
No. 35-ranked TCU improved to 14-2 with the win and closed its nonconference schedule at 11-2. The Mustangs, ranked 51st, slipped to 11-8 on the year. TCU won for the second-straight time against its former Southwest Conference foe.
“The kids found a way to win,” TCU coach Dave Borelli said. “We really had our backs against the wall and I didn’t think we’d be able to win the match after Millie got hurt, but the girls just battled. I don’t know if we’ll get Millie back in time, so we’ll have to change our doubles, but I’m confident in any of the girls we’ll put out there. There are the cardiac kids and can just always find a way to win.”
Continuing her run of solid play, junior Monika Sirilova won for the seventh-straight match to clinch TCU’s come-from-behind 4-3 win. The Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia, native was a 6-4, 7-5 winner over Yana Erkeeva for the fourth and final point.
The Horned Frogs fell behind 1-0 to open the match as the Mustangs got wins at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles to clinch the points. Federica Denti and Kelsey Sundaram provided the bring spot for the Frogs in doubles, bettering Hristina Dishkova and Holly Verner, 8-2.
The Frogs caught a tough break at No. 5 singles when junior Millie Nichols was forced to retire due to injury after winning the first set, 6-4. Her loss meant the Frogs needed four wins in the five remaining matches.
Denti was first to win for TCU to give the Frogs life, dropping Elena Fayner, 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4 singles. The Bellano, Italy, native improved to 8-2 this spring and won her second-straight match.
Simona Parajova picked up a 7-5, 6-0 win at the expense of Vaszilisza Bulgakova at No. 3 singles for TCU’s second point. No. 71-ranked Stefanie Tan evened the match at three when she dropped No. 119 Edyta Cieplucha, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5.
Tan’s win set the stage for the Sirilova to score TCU’s fourth point with her win at No. 6 singles. TCU returns to Big 12 play for the remainder of the season Friday when Kansas State visits the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. First serve is set for 2 p.m.
