The women’s tennis team defeated No. 16 William & Mary 4-3 on Sunday. The final two points of the match came from two freshmen, who stepped up when it mattered most.

With three matches still left in the game, TCU (3-2) needed to win at least two of them to seal a victory over the Tribe. On courts five and six, freshmen Katriina Touhimaa and Idunn Hertzberg of TCU came through in the clutch. Hertzberg won in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4. In the second game, she and her opponent went back and forth. Up 5-2, Hertzberg would drop the next two sets. Now up 5-4, and serving for match point, Hertzberg was able to outlast her opponent in a long volley series. Up 40-30, Hertzberg hit a smash down the baseline and gave TCU its third point.

The stage was set for Touhimaa. In the first game of her singles match, she defeated Lauren Sabacinski, 7-6. In the second game Touhimaa was on top of her game and had a 4-2 advantage over her opponent. With the Frogs just two more sets away from sealing the victory Tuohimaa answered the call and held serve for 6-2 victory; sealing the game for the Horned Frogs.

“I actually did not realize that we were only one win away from clinching the victory,” said Touhimaa. “Sometimes when I get nervous, it is hard for me to keep my legs moving. I calmed myself down, kept my legs and was able to get the needed win for our team.”

“It’s not easy to close out a match,” Hammond said. “Our team seems to handle pressure well, and I think it is good experience for a young player to be put in that situation.”

There was still one singles match left to play. After loosing 5-7 in the first game, Harkins came back and won the second game 7-6. With all of the games decided, all eyes were on court two. The final game of the day was a close one, with both players playing for pride. After a long and tiring singles game, William & Mary’s Zoricic outlasted TCU’s Harkins, and won the third and final game 6-3.

The victory for William & Mary (8-4) did not matter as the Horned Frogs had already clinched victory. The win gave the tribe one more point, but it was not enough as the Frogs won 4-3.

The Tribe got their first point of the game after Moulton-Levy was able to defeat sophomore Nina Munch-Soegaard in singles, 6-3, 6-4. Moulton-Levy’s victory would be followed by another victory for William & Mary.

Following Soegaard’s defeat, senior Kewa Nichols lost in three sets to Klaudyna Kasztelaniec. For the first time the Frogs were not leading, and it seemed like William & Mary was going to make a comeback.

In doubles play, TCU won two-of-three over William & Mary. TCU’s No. 11 ranked pair of Sydorska and Harkins led the way in doubles competition by beating William & Mary’s No.26 ranked pair of Moulton-Levy and Zoricic, 8-4.

“Macall and I have been playing together since the beginning of fall,” Sydorska said. “We have gotten to know each other better, and the more we win the more confident we are in playing with each other.”

Hammond said the game was an example of the team’s composure and poise.

“You have to be resilient to do well in sports, and if you do that, win or lose I think any coach will be happy,” Hammond said.