Strong showings in doubles competition, including a victory over an opponent from a major conference, was one of the promising spots from this past weekend’s Met Collegiate Indoor Invitational hosted by Rice University.The duo of sophomore Kriegler Brink and freshman Mike Donovan were able to pull off an 8-4 win against a Clemson team.

Although the team would fall the next day in the round of 16 to Southern Mississippi, 9-7, head coach Dave Borelli said the team has a major upside to its individual games, Donovan said.

“I was really happy that Mike Donovan got a win against an (Atlantic Coast Conference) team,” Borelli said.

In addition to the success of Brink and Donovan, some of the team’s newcomers made a good first impression with teammates by having a strong first tournament. Caleb Bulls and junior Stuart Row were not to be overshadowed as they reached the finals of the doubles consolation championship before falling to a Texas A&M team 8-2.

With TCU ready to host Wednesday matches against Texas-Pan American and Friday matches against Clemson at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center, Borelli said that having to practice indoors as well as trying to improve their conditioning after a two-month layoff from active competition have been issues they have been looking to address during their first week back.

“I think we’re kind of in a good situation as a team,” Borelli said. “Every day, we finish practice, we get better.”

Borelli said the team’s chemistry is exceptional considering it’s still early in the season and said he expects good things in the tournaments to come.

“We are continuing to develop an attitude that we’re tough, that we’re going to work hard and that we’re class while doing it,” Borelli said. “That’s the most important thing.