TCU
No. 31 Alabama
Frogs Falter Against No. 31 Alabama Friday
2/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 11, 2011
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FORT WORTH, Texas - The No. 52 TCU men's tennis team couldn't pull out its first ranked win of the season Friday, falling to No. 31 Alabama, 4-3. The loss moves the Horned Frogs' record to 2-2 for the year, while the Crimson Tide advances to 4-1 overall.
"I saw a huge improvement in our play from our last match," TCU head coach David Roditi said. "It was great to see Daniel Sanchez get in the singles lineup and compete the way he did. He hadn't played in a singles match since having his second knee surgery in September and I just loved the way he played out there today. It was fun to watch."
TCU jumped on the scoreboard first, taking an early 1-0 advantage in the team scoring by taking the doubles point. Senior Zach Nichols and junior Daniel Sanchez moved to 3-1 this season after dismissing Alabama's tandem of Michael Thompson and Trey Walston from the No. 3 court, 8-5. The Tide would bounce back on the middle court to put the pressure on the top court.
The Frogs' top duo of Emanuel Brighiu and Christopher Price kept up with the Tide's team of Ricky Doverspike and Vikram Reddy to start the match, keeping the match close. As Alabama began to pull away and take a 5-3 lead, TCU's tandem buckled down to steal five of the next six games and claim the win, 8-6.
TCU has yet to lose the doubles point through the first four matches of the season, boasting a 10-2 overall record. Brighiu and Price, the nation's 55th-ranked duo, have earned a perfect 4-0 ledger, clinching the doubles point in three of the Frogs' four matches.
"I thought we did a great job in doubles," Roditi said. "We continue to play well and get the job done there. I thought our No. 1 team did a great job clinching the match for us again."
Alabama would bounce back in the singles portion, earning straight-set wins on the No. 2, No. 5 and No. 3 courts. With the 3-1 advantage, it didn't look good for TCU.
Sanchez snapped the Tide's momentum, securing a win from the No. 6 court in his singles debut for TCU. The Monterrey, Mexico, product had to break Carlos Taborga at the end of the second set to win, 7-5, 6-4. Price evened the team score at 3-3 by dismantling Daniil Proskura from the fourth court, 6-1, 6-3.
With the match hanging in the balance at the top position, the two teams had their best players fighting to earn the win. Doverspike fought off a late rally by Brighiu and took the tie-breaker in the opening set, 7-6 (2). In the second frame, Brighiu could not hold his serve to fall, 7-6 (2), 6-4.
TCU will have to get over the loss quickly as the Frogs travel to take on No. 9 Baylor in Waco Saturday. First serve is set for 2 p.m.
No. 31 Alabama (4-1) def. No. 52 TCU (2-2), 4-3
Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center | Fort Worth, Texas
SINGLES
1. Ricky Doverspike (BAMA) def. Emanuel Brighiu (TCU) 7-6 (2), 6-4
2. Jarryd Botha (BAMA) def. Soren Goritzka (TCU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Vikram Reddy (BAMA) def. Zach Nichols (TCU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Christopher Price (TCU) def. Daniil Proskura (BAMA) 6-1, 6-3
5. Michael Thompson (BAMA) def. Cameron Nash (TCU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Daniel Sanchez (TCU) def. Carlos Taborga (BAMA) 7-5, 6-4
Order of Finish: 2, 5, 3, 6, 5, 1*
DOUBLES
1. No. 55 Brighiu/Price (TCU) def. Doverspike/Reddy (BAMA) 8-6
2. Botha/Proskura (BAMA) def. Goritzka/Nash (TCU) 8-6
3. Nichols/Sanchez (TCU) def. Thompson/Walston (BAMA) 8-5
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1*
Players Mentioned
