TCU
ITA Kick-off Weekend at #11 Texas A&M
Women's Tennis Takes Down No. 11 Texas A&M
1/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
FORT WORTH, Texas - The No. 41 TCU women's tennis team punched its ticket to the 2015 ITA National Team Indoor Championships for the first time in program history with a 4-2 upset victory over No. 11 Texas A&M on Sunday afternoon in College Station, Texas.
The Horned Frogs (3-0) advance to the team championships in Charlottesville, Va., at the Boar's Head Tennis Club on Feb. 6-9 after rebounding from losing the doubles point to topple the Aggies (1-1) with four singles victories. The win also marks the second straight team victory over a ranked opponent and first over a top 15 ranked opponent since 2006.
"I am really proud of the composure and maturity all the girls showed," coach Lee Taylor Walker said. "We had chances to win the doubles and kind of choked it away. Most team would give up and make excuses after something like that, but all the girls responded with great determination and energy instead.
"Not only did Seda (Arantekin) close it out and clinch, but she played the right way and got better. It is a great day for TCU tennis."
TCU started the competition with the freshmen pair of Palina Dubavets and Alexis Pereira snagging a 6-4 victory over Stefania Hristov and Anna Mamalat on court three. The Frogs could not pull off the victory on the other two courts, as Texas A&M won at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to take the point.
The Frogs did not back down and regrouped in singles with the top half of the lineup each claiming a victory to put TCU up 3-0. Sofiko Kadzhaya put the first point on the board for TCU with a straight-set, 6-4, 6-4 win over Ines Deheza at No. 3 singles.
The lone seniors on the team, Stefanie Tan and Simona Parajova, picked up the biggest victories of the day for the Frogs as both notched wins over ranked opponents. Parajova got her first victory over a ranked opponent this season by defeating No. 56 Rachel Pierson at No. 2 singles. Parajova dropped the first set, 6-4, but rebounded by claiming 12 of the next 13 games to take the next two sets, 6-1, 6-0 and the match.
Tan was able to get her second victory over a ranked opponent this season by defeating No. 29 Saska Gavrilovska. Tan was able to take the first set 6-2, but dropped the second set, 6-3, to force a decisive third set. The senior proved to have what was needed and dominated with a 6-1 victory.
After dropping the match at No. 5 singles, sophomore Seda Arantekin was able to clinch the match for TCU by defeating Mamalat 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 on court six.
Before heading to the indoor national championships, the Frogs will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face Alabama on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 5 p.m.
Tennis Match Results
TCU vs Texas A&M
1/25/2015 at College Station, Texas
(Mitchell Tennis Center)
#41 TCU 4, #11 Texas A&M 2
Singles competition
1. Stefanie Tan (TCU) def. #29 Saska Gavrilovska (A&M) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
2. Simona Parajova (TCU) def. #56 Rachel Pierson (A&M) 4-6, 6-1, 6-0
3. Sofiko Kadzhaya (TCU) def. Ines Deheza (A&M) 6-4, 6-4
4. Rutuja Bhosale (A&M) vs. Palina Dubavets (TCU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 3-3, unfinished
5. Stefania Hristov (A&M) def. Alexis Pereira (TCU) 6-1, 4-6, 7-5
6. Seda Arantekin (TCU) def. Anna Mamalat (A&M) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #30 Ines Deheza/Rachel Pierson (A&M) def. Seda Arantekin/Stefanie Tan (TCU) 6-3
2. Rutuja Bhosale/Saska Gavrilovska (A&M) def. Sofiko Kadzhaya/Simona Parajova (TCU) 6-4
3. Palina Dubavets/Alexis Pereira (TCU) def. Stefania Hristov/Anna Mamalat (A&M) 6-4
Match Notes:
TCU 3-0; National ranking #41
Texas A&M 1-1; National ranking #11
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,2,1,5,6)
ITA Kick-Off Weekend - Championship Match
A-206
Players Mentioned
