Alabama defeated TCU 4-3 at Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. TCU suffered its second loss in a row, dropping the Horned Frogs to 2-2. TCU won the doubles competition 2-1. The Horned Frogs fared poorly in singles play losing four of the six matches.
On the first court senior Emanuel Brighiu and senior Christopher Price, took on Alabama juniors Ricky Doverspike and Vikram . Brighiu and Price trailed early, but rallied to take the 7-5 lead. Reddy made a sensational dive to pull the score to 7-6. Brighiu and Price held of a “Bama rally to win 50-30 and give TCU the victory.
On the second court, TCU sophomore Soren Goritzka and senior Cameron Nash started poorly, falling 1-4. The Frogs rallied, but couldn’t defeat sophomore Jarryd Botha and freshman Danil Proskura. On the third court senior Zach Nichols and junior Daniel Sanchez, faced off against Alabama
Junior Michael Thompson and senior Trey Walston. The Frogs played consistently well throughout the match and won it 8-5.
After a brief intermission, the singles matches began. Goritzka was on the second court and he struggled in his singles matchups, losing the first game 0-6 and the second 2-6. Goritzka appeared to suffer a minor leg injury during his double match.
Alabama won on courts three and five. Nichols lost to Reddy 4-6 and 2-6. On Court five Nash lost to Thompson 2-6 and 1-6.
TCU rallied when Sanchez and Price won their matches in rapid succession. Sanchez battled “Bama sophomore Ian Chadwell, defeating him 7-5 in the first set and 6-4 in the second set. Price dominated freshman, Danill Proskura winning in straight sets with scores of 6-1 and 6-3.
With the overall match tied 3-3, the tiebreaker was between l Brighiu and Alabama junior Ricky Doverspike. Doverspike pulled ahead early in the first set, but Brighiu battled back until finally falling 7-6. The next set was much the same; Doverspike and Brighiu fought until Doverspike pulled away taking the set 6-4 and clinching the tournament for Alabama.
Up next
The road doesn’t get any easier for TCU, who plays their next match tomorrow against No. 9 Baylor at 2 p.m. in Waco.
Alabama will remain in Texas this weekend as the Crimson tide travel to Dallas to take on the SMU Mustangs.
