TCU senior Katariina Tuohimaa faced off against her former doubles partner, junior Kayla Duncan of Wake Forest, but Tuohimaa couldn’t best Duncan in a 8-4 doubles loss and the Frogs couldn’t best the Demon Deacons in a 6-1 defeat at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center Monday.
No. 73 Wake Forest brought its record to 4-5 with the win while No. 75 TCU’s record is now 1-5 this season.
Tuohimaa said it was a little weird to play against her former teammate and see her in a different uniform, but she tried to think of it as practice because she is still good friends with Duncan.
“We were really close,” Tuohimaa said. “We were like roommates and really good friends.”
Tuohimaa said she has been working on her forehand technique, and she thought it had gotten better since playing with Duncan. Besides an improved forehand, though, she thought she had the same style as when she played with Duncan.
In other doubles matches, the Demon Deacon pair of Emilee Malvehy and Martina Pavelec defeated TCU junior Gaby Mastromarino and freshman Olivia Smith, 8-4 on the No. 2 court. On No. 3 court, TCU seniors Maria Babanova and Idunn Hertzberg defeated Wake Forest’s Brigita Bercyte and Ryann Cutillo, 8-5.
Head coach Dave Borelli was not thrilled about the outcome of the TCU doubles.
“I thought that was one of the worst doubles we have ever played,” Borelli said after the match. “I don’t know what happened, but we did not play very well in the doubles.”
In singles play, Wake Forest’s Martina Pavelec defeated Tuohimaa 7-5, 7-5. TCU’s one win in single’s play came when Smith defeated Kathryn Talbert of Wake Forest 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Overall, the Demon Deacons took Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6 courts in singles play. Wake Forest’s Emilee Malvehy defeated TCU sophomore Federica Denti 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 and Duncan defeated Hertzberg of 6-2, 6-1. Ryann Cutillo defeated TCU senior Shalini Sahoo 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. Babanova was winning 6-3 on the No. 6 court when she had to forfeit the match due to an injury.
Borelli thought the team played well in singles but still had to improve.
“We just didn’t play well on the big points, that’s the bottom line,” Borelli said. “We just have to play better on the big points, play more percentage, and we’re just making too many errors when it gets close.”
Injuries have plagued the Horned Frogs and Borelli said the team is trying to focus despite the injuries.
“[Federica] Denti’s got a bad back, Gaby [Mastromarino] doesn’t play, Maria [Babanova] gets hurt and she’s winning,” he said. “So all those issues, it’s tough on everybody.”
Borelli said the team is looking forward to conference play, and he is confident.
“We just gotta keep our heads above water and keep working and focus on the conference,” he said. “Whatever we do, conference is our avenue to make the NCAA’s and make it a better year, and we’ll be there. We’ll be there for sure, no doubt in my mind.”
Up next
TCU will play Wednesday at home against Lamar at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Staff reporter Ashley Monismith contributed to this report.