TCU'S BRINK, HARKINS EARN MWC HONORS

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO (March 13, 2008) TCU junior Kriegler Brink was named the Mountain West Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Week, while junior Macall Harkins was named the MWC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week, the league office announced on Thursday.

Brink, a native of Gauteng, South Africa, went a combined 4-0 last week as No. 29 TCU split contests with two ranked Big 12 opponents. Brink won both singles contests to remain undefeated.

Against No. 35 Oklahoma, Brink and partner Cosmin Cotet routed the No. 28 duo of
Andrei Daescu and Federico Chavarria by a score of 8-4 at the top position to clinch the doubles point in what would be the deciding factor in the match. In singles play, Brink cruised past Alexander Joitoiu by a score of 6-1, 6-3.

Brink and Cotet led off doubles play against No. 19 Texas A&M with an 8-3 victory over Austin Krajicek and Wil Spencer as the Horned Frogs would eventually clinch the doubles point. In singles action, Brink outlasted Chris Chirico by a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to push the match score back to 3-3, before the Frogs would eventually drop the last contest.

The award was the first for Brink in his TCU career and the fourth award in the last five selections for the men’s team, as Cotet and Emanu Brighiu have also garnered the honors.

Harkins, a native of Palos Verdes, Calif., went a combined 4-0 last week to lead No. 22 TCU to two wins on the road over nationally ranked opponents.

Against No. 37 Wake Forest, Harkins defeated Christian Tara at the No. 3 position by a score of 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to knot the match back up at 2-2. In doubles play, Harkins and partner Anna Sydorska routed the No. 27 duo of Alex Hirsch and Sasha Kulikova by a score of 8-3 to clinch the crucial doubles point in a match where all six singles contests went to three sets.

Harkins led off singles play against No. 28 VCU with a dominating 6-2, 6-0 victory over No. 121 Kateryna Yergina at the No. 3 spot. Harkins and Sydorska also led off doubles action with an 8-6 win over VCU’s Uvarova and Konstantinova at the top position.

The award was the second for Harkins this season and the third consecutive and fourth overall this season for the women’s team.