FORT WORTH, TEXAS (February 8, 2009) In a dramatic finish, the No. 21 TCU women's tennis team defeated No. 25 Auburn by a score of 4-3 Sunday at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. The Horned Frogs improved to 3-2 overall, earning their second-consecutive win over a top-25 opponent and third in the last four matches.
“I’m really happy for the team, this was a great win. Our fans really helped
pull us through and it was a great feeling have such support,” TCU head coach
Jefferson Hammond said. “Auburn really stepped it up when they were down 3-1 and
it was anybody’s match.”
The Frogs earned the doubles point by claiming the Nos. 2 and 3 positions. The
28th-ranked duo of Munch-Soegaard and sophomore Maria Babanova paired up for the
first time this spring to earn an 8-6 win over Auburn’s Fani Chifchieva and
Whitney Chappell. TCU clinched the point with freshman Kayla Duncan and
sophomore Katariina Tuohimaa’s 8-3 victory against the Tigers’ Myrthe Molenveld
and Dunja Djuranovic.
Auburn quickly brought the match to an even score at 1-1, snatching the first
singles match from the No. 3 position. TCU would storm back to a 3-1 advantage
as newcomers Duncan and Gaby Mastromarino tacked on wins in straight sets from
the Nos. 5 and 6 spots, respectively. Duncan, a Winston-Salem, N.C. product,
took down Molenveld, 6-0, 6-2. Mastromarino picked up her third singles win of
the year with a 7-5, 6-1 finish against Daniela Vukadinovic.
After falling in the Nos. 2 and 3 positions, it all came down to the No. 1 court
and junior Nina Munch-Soegaard, who clinched the win for the Frogs, taking down
No. 6 Fani Chifchieva from Auburn, forcing the match into a third-set tiebreaker
and winning the battle, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (6). The Amarillo, Texas native rushed
back into the match after dropping the opening set, taking the middle set and
jumping to a 4-1 lead early in the final frame. Munch-Soegaard is now 5-0 in
singles action, all coming against ranked opponents.
“Nina handled the pressure great, did everything she could to win and did. It
was great to be able to see the team come through when it got tough,” Hammond
said. “We will have to earn everything this year, and nothing will come easy. We
will need to continue to have a strong will to prepare to win and have quality
practices as we head forward before we play N.C. State.”
TCU will enjoy a two-week layoff before hosting North Carolina State at the
Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center on Feb 21.
No. 21 TCU 4, No. 25 Auburn 3
SINGLES
1. No. 12 Nina Munch-Soegaard (TCU) def. No. 6 Fani Chifchieva (AU) 3-6, 6-1,
7-6 (8-6)
2. No. 86 Alex Haney (AU) def. No. 49 Macall Harkins (TCU) 5-7, 7-5, 6-0
3. No. 41 Melissa Koning (AU) def. Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU) 6-0, 6-4
4. Whitney Chappell (AU) def. Anna Sydorska (TCU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Kayla Duncan (TCU) def. Myrthe Molenveld (AU) 6-0, 6-2
6. Gaby Mastromarino (TCU) def. Daniela Vukadinovic (AU) 7-5, 6-1
Order of Finish: 3,5,6,4,2,1*
DOUBLES
1. No. 22 Melissa Koning/Alex Haney (AU) vs. No. 16 Macall Harkins/Anna Sydorska
(TCU) 9-7, unfinished
2. No. 28 Nina Munch-Soegaard/Maria Babanova (TCU) def. Fani Chifchieva/Whitney
Chappell (AU) 8-6
3. Kayla Duncan/Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU) def. Myrthe Molenveld/Dunja Djuranovic
(AU) 8-3
Order of Finish: 2, 3*
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