TCU women’s tennis will take on three conference teams back to back to back this weekend in Colorado Springs, Colo. as the Frogs gear up for the Mountain West Conference Championships.
TCU (7-10, 2-3 MWC) will play against Colorado State (14-8, 0-4 MWC) on Friday, Wyoming(10-7, 0-4 MWC) on Saturday and Air Force(14-8, 0-4 MWC) on Sunday. Despite not having a day off between matches, coach Dave Borelli said he is confident in his team’s ability.
“I think momentum is everything and confidence if everything and our team is capable of winning the last seven matches,” he said. “I really believe that. I have a lot of faith in my team.”
The team lost matches 4-3 to UNLV and 5-2 to San Diego State last weekend in Albuquerque, N.M. but Borelli said changing up the team’s doubles lineup will have a positive impact on the upcoming games.
“We lost two very close matches last week…but we found our doubles combination which has been a struggle all year,” Borelli said.
The Frogs will return to the doubles lineup they used against San Diego State Sunday.
Borelli said the team had overcome injuries that had impacted them earlier in the season. Senior Katariina Tuohimaa said having a healthy team would put them at an advantage.
“There’s been little injuries all throughout the season,” Tuohimma said. “Nothing too big, but if one person’s hurt it will impact the whole lineup.”
Tuohimaa said now that the team has recovered and everyone is in good health their performance should improve.
Tuohimaa has a 4-1 record in singles and has remained in the No. 1 spot through all five of her matches.
“I think we’re all pretty excited to play here,” she said. “We’re pretty positive about the whole weekend, and hoping to win.”
CSU’s Caitlin Fluegge holds the No. 1 spot for the Rams with a 5-10 record. Fluegge and Veronika Wojakowska carry a 3-6 record into Friday’s match as the Rams’ No. 1 doubles duo.
When the Frogs face Wyoming Saturday, in singles they will face the Cowgirls’ Veronica Popovici at the No. 1 court. Popovici has an 11-5 record in singles and is 2-2 in MWC play.
Sunday the Frogs will be matched against The Falcons’ No. 1 duo of Melissa Cecil and Tahlia Smoke, who are 14-7 in the spring. Christen Monreal is the No. 1 player in singles for Air Force. She has a 7-11 record in the spring.
Borelli said he did not think the change in altitude would affect the team too much.
“We’re in very good physical shape, Borelli said. “In altitude, there’s a tendency to be a little short-winded and things like that, but I really think we’re in an opportunity here to take advantage of what our strength is.
“I think we’re team number one to play in these last seven matches, and that’s the honest to God truth,” he said.
Notes
TCU has never lost to any of their upcoming weekend opponents. TCU is 7-0 against CSU, 10-0 against Wyoming and 5-0 against Air Force.
TCU vs. Colorado State
When: 11 a.m. Friday
Where: Colorado Springs, Colo.
TCU vs. Wyoming
When: 11 a.m. Saturday
Where: Colorado Springs, Colo.
TCU vs. Air Force
When: 11 a.m. Sunday
Where: Colorado Springs, Colo.