TCU
Syracuse
TCU Rolls Past Syracuse, 6-1, in Season Opener
1/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 21, 2012
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FORT WORTH - TCU's women's tennis team made quick work in its season opener, knocking off Syracuse, 6-1, at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center.
The Horned Frogs won all three doubles matches and dropped their lone singles match in a three-set super tiebreaker at No. 1 singles.
"I was really happy with how we played in the doubles," TCU coach Dave Borelli said. "In singles, I was happy with Gaby Mastromarino winning after not playing in the fall and I thought Stefanie Tan showed a lot of resolve at No. 1. It's going to be a fun year and we'll be able to play a lot of players."
TCU wasted no time getting right to work and showed why it has two doubles teams ranked among the nation's top 60 pairs. No. 57-ranked Federica Denti and Kelsey Sundaram struck first for the Frogs, scoring an 8-2 win over Maddie Kobelt and Aleah Marrow of Syracuse.
At No. 1 doubles, TCU's 31st-ranked Millie Nichols and Olivia Smith clinched the doubles point with their 8-2 dismissal of Emily Harman and Komal Safdar. Since becoming doubles partners in the fall, Nichols and Smith are 9-3. Freshmen Simona Parajova and Tan added an 8-5 win at No. 3 doubles.
In singles, Smith, the 114th-ranked player in the country, made it 2-0 in favor of the Frogs with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Safdar at No. 2 singles. Denti brought TCU within one point of winning the match when she grabbed a 6-3, 6-0 triumph over Marrow at No. 5 singles.
Nichols clinched the match for TCU and continued the Frog onslaught with her 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles over Kobelt. With her win, TCU improved to 1-0 on the year and 27-9 all-time in season openers.
Parajova ran the tally to 5-0 when she took care of Alessondra Parra, 6-3, 6-4 for her first dual-match win as a Frog. Mastromarino, TCU's lone senior, returned after taking the fall off to rehab a shoulder injury and was a 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-7) winner at No. 6 singles.
Syracuse (0-2) scored its only point after TCU led 6-0 when Harman was able to better Tan in a third-set super tiebreaker 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (10-5).
TCU returns to action Jan. 28 when it hosts Texas State and Lamar for a doubleheader at the Friedman Tennis Center. First serve against the Bobcats is set for 10 a.m.
MATCH RESULTS
SINGLES
1. Emily Harman (SU) def. #92 Stefanie Tan (TCU) 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (10-5)
2. #114 Olivia Smith (TCU) def. Komal Safdar (SU) 6-0, 6-0
3. Simona Parajova (TCU) def. Alessondra Parra (SU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Millie Nichols (TCU) def. Maddie Kobelt (SU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Federica Denti (TCU) def. Aleah Marrow (SU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Gaby Mastromarino (TCU) def. Amanda Rogers (SU) 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-7)
DOUBLES
1. #31 Millie Nichols/Olivia Smith (TCU) def. Emily Harman/Komal Safdar (SU) 8-2
2. #57 Federica Denti/Kelsey Sundaram (TCU) def. Maddie Kobelt/Aleah Marrow (SU) 8-2
3. Simona Parajova/Stefanie Tan (TCU) def. Alessondra Parra/Amanda Rogers (SU) 8-5
MATCH NOTES
Syracuse University 0-2
TCU 1-0; National ranking #51
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,5,4,3,6,1)
Weather: 50F, Sunny, Winds light and variable
T-3:08 A-105
