TCU Comeback Falls Short

Friday, April 2

Fort Worth, Texas

2 PM

TCU

SMU

TCU Comeback Falls Short

4/2/2021 8:22:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Marie Norris and Stevie Kennedy post 2-0 days as TCU falls to SMU

FORT WORTH –No. 50 TCU women's tennis (9-9, 3-4) won three singles matches in a row before falling in the final match to drop a 4-3 decision to SMU on Friday afternoon at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center in Fort Worth.

That's a tough one to swallow for our team," head coach Lee Taylor Walker said. "We had chances to close it out in doubles and get that point and also chances in singles play. Give credit to SMU and coach Nevolo for having his team ready to play with a lot of energy and commitment. They made at hard for us and I have to give them credit. I'm really proud of Marie and Stevie for playing No. 1 doubles together and getting a dominant ranked win, and then Marie and Mercedes continuing on to get some solid wins at 1-2. They really played with a lot of poise and character and fought off the runs of their opponents. Mercedes really raised her level at the end and took the match in her hands and that's something we talk about as a program. It was great to see Stevie back on the singles court. She's missed the last 4 matches and we have felt it in a big way. Her presence and success today were great to see."

DOUBLES QUICK HITS

Marie Norris and Stevie Kennedy made their first start at No. 1 doubles this season and delivered a dominant, 6-1 victory over the No. 46-ranked pairing in the nation.
They improve to 4-1 as a doubles team this season and 1-0 at No. 1.
Norris is now 13-7 in doubles matches this year, the most wins on the team.
Kennedy bumped her record up to 10-8 in doubles play this year.
This was their first ranked win in their first attempt this season.
The Horned Frogs are 3-2 against ranked opponents in doubles competition this season.
TCU is now 20-25 in dual doubles play.

Doubles Results
1. Stevie Kennedy/Marie Norris (TCU) def. #46 Jackie Nylander/Hadley Doyle (SMU) 6-1
2. Claudia Bartolome/Chandler Carter (SMU) def. Isabel Pascual/Mercedes Aristegui (TCU) 6-4
3. Winslow Huth/Nicole Petchey (SMU) def. Tate Schroeder/Margaret Polk (TCU) 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3

SINGLES QUICK HITS

The Horned Frogs split singles competition with wins at No. 1, 2 and 4.
Norris claimed the first win of the day, using powerful forehands and a strong service game to battle past No. 90 Nylander in straight sets: 6-4, 6-4.
She improves her overall singles record to 16-5 and 13-5 in duals.
She is now 5-5 at No. 1 singles and 2-3 against ranked opponents.
Norris went 2-0 on the day, her team-leading ninth unbeaten day of the season. She has not lost a set in any of those nine perfect days.
Mercedes Aristegui drew the Frogs within one after securing a TCU point on court two: 7-5, 6-4.
She improves her team-high winning percentage by moving her record to 14-2 in dual action.
She is now 3-0 at No. 2 singles this season.
Stevie Kennedy won her first singles match back from injury since March 14.
Her first set had to be decided in a tiebreaker, which Kennedy claimed with outstanding defensive play and aggressive shot making when needed, 7-4. She has won all three tiebreaker sets in dual action this year.
Kennedy improves to 7-5 this dual season and 3-2 at No. 4 singles.
This was her third 2-0 day of the season.
The Horned Frogs are now 50-44 in singles matches this dual season.

Singles Results
1. #103 Marie Norris (TCU) def. #90 Jackie Nylander (SMU) 6-4, 6-4
2. #82 Mercedes Aristegui (TCU) def. Hadley Doyle (SMU) 7-5, 6-4
3. Winslow Huth (SMU) def. Tate Schroeder (TCU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
4. Stevie Kennedy (TCU) def. Chandler Carter (SMU) 7-6(4), 6-4
5. Claudia Bartolome (SMU) def. Isabel Pascual (TCU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Nicole Petchey (SMU) def. Margaret Polk (TCU) 6-2, 6-1
Order of finish – 5, 6, 1, 2, 4, 3

Up Next
TCU will play on the purple courts again next Saturday, April 10, when the Frogs host Texas Tech in a non-conference dual at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center.

For more information on TCU women's tennis, visit gofrogs.com and follow the team on social media: @TCUWomensTennis on twitter and Facebook, @tcuwomenstennis on Instagram.