FROGS CONTINUE SURGE IN NATIONAL RANKINGS

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (April 14, 2009) TCU made a major jump in this week’s latest release of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) national team rankings from 45th to 36th.

The Horned Frogs, fresh off winning six of their last seven matches, claimed at least a share of this year’s Mountain West Conference regular season championship last weekend in San Diego, Calif. TCU went 5-1 in conference play over the last two weekends to earn the No. 1 seed for the MWC Championships, which will be held in two weeks.

TCU’s recent hot streak has been led by senior Kriegler Brink, TCU’s top-ranked singles player in the current ITA listings. Brink checks in at No. 73 this week, which is only one spot lower than his previous career-best position reached earlier this season. The Gautang, South Africa, native won all three of his matches last weekend to run his season record to a team-best mark of 16-4.

Joining Brink in the singles ratings is freshman Slah Mbarek, who slid from his previous spot at No. 62 to No. 77 this week. Mbarek dropped both of his matches this past weekend after suffering an injury during the previous weekend’s competition. Despite the recent setback, he still ranks tied for the team lead in victories at No. 1 singles with sophomore teammate Emanuel Brighiu with four.

Brighiu dropped out of the rankings this week after previously holding down the No. 110 spot. The Iasi, Romania, native has won four of his last five outings, but was forced out of the No. 1 singles position for TCU during a nine-match stretch while battling an injury of his own. He returned to the top spot during Saturday’s MWC-clinching victory over Air Force.

TCU continued to hold down two of the nation’s top doubles spots in the tandems of Brink/Mbarek and Brighiu/junior Adrian Simon. Brighiu/Simon fell this week from No. 20 to No. 25, while Brink/Mbarek, who have been playing in the top position for the Frogs during the last month, slid seven spots from No. 31 to No. 38. The two duos have helped the Frogs win the doubles point in 13 of 19 opportunities this spring, including four of the last five chances.

TCU returns to the court looking to defend its 2008 MWC Championships crown April 23-25 in Albuquerque, N.M.