The No. 4-seeded TCU women’s tennis team battled back after dropping the doubles point to win four singles matches and pick up a 4-1 win over fifth-seeded BYU on Thursday afternoon at Colorado State’s University Tennis Complex.

With the win, the Horned Frogs improve to 12-10 overall and advance to the semifinal round of the MountainWest Conference Women’s Tennis Championship for the sixth-straight year. TCU will face top-seeded UNLV at 10:30 a.m., CT on Friday.

“I thought we stumbled a bit in the doubles,” TCU coach Dave Borelli said. “We kept our cool and composure in the singles. You always have your ups and downs in doubles, but we’ll bounce back tomorrow.”

Gaby Mastromarino’s 6-3, 6-4 win over Elle Carney capped a furious TCU rally in singles that saw the Frogs rattle off four-straight wins before BYU could score its second point. The Tequesta, Fla., native improved to 14-5 during the spring and 10-2 in matches played in straight sets.

In a 1-0 hole, Shalini Sahoo provided the spark TCU needed to start its comeback when she dropped AubreyPaul, 6-1, 6-1. It was the fifth-straight win in singles for the New Delhi,India, native and made the count 1-1 on the scoreboard.

Senior Katariina Tuohimaa continued her recent run of solid play and made it 2-1 in favor of the Purple and White with her 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Megan Price at the top of the lineup. The Helsinki, Finland, native is 8-1 against league foes this spring.

Idunn Hertzberg followed suit to run the Frog lead to 3-1. She was a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Elizaveta Ezhova at the fifth singles spot. The Oslo, Norway, native battled from a 1-3 deficit in the second set before winning five of the next six games.

The remaining matches at Nos. 2and 4 singles were called to a halt after Mastromarino’s win scored the fourth point to clinch the match for TCU.

BYU picked up the doubles point to open the match, scoring wins at No. 1 and 3 doubles. TCU’s No. 2 tandem of Federica Denti and Olivia Smith were 8-4 winners over Ezhova and Desiree Tran for the lone Frog victory.

The Cougars struck first in doubles with Callie Craig and Price knocking off TCU’s top duo of Maria Babanova and Tuohimaa, 8-1. The Frog tandem dropped to 5-2 as doubles partners this spring.

In the final doubles match, BYU’s Carney and Pual jumped out to a 6-3 lead only to see Hertzberg and Mastromarino battle to even the match at six games apiece. In the end, the Cougar tandemwere too much for the TCU duo and picked up an 8-6 victory.

No. 4 TCU 4, No. 5 BYU 1

April 28, 2011

University Tennis Complex – Fort Collins, Colo.

SINGLES

No. 1 – Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU) def. Megan Price (BYU), 6-4, 6-2

No. 2 – Olivia Smith (TCU) vs. Callie Craig (BYU), 2-6, unfinished

No. 3 – Gaby Mastromarino (TCU) def. Elle Carney (BYU), 6-3, 6-4

No. 4 – Federica Denti (TCU) vs. Desiree Tran (BYU), 7-5, unfinished

No. 5 – Idunn Hertzberg (TCU) def. Elizaveta Ezhova (BYU), 6-2, 6-4

No. 6 – Shalini Sahoo (TCU) def. Aubrey Paul (BYU), 6-1, 6-1

DOUBLES

No. 1 – Callie Craig/Megan Price (BYU) def. Maria Babanova/Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU), 8-1

No. 2 – Federica Denti/Olivia Smith (TCU) def. Elizaveta Ezhova/Desiree Tran (BYU), 8-4

No. 3 – Elle Carney/Aubrey Paul (BYU) def. Idunn Hertzberg/Gaby Mastromarino (TCU), 8-6

MATCH NOTES

#4 TCU Horned Frogs 12-10 (5-3 MWC), National ranking #71

#5 BYU Cougars 9-12 (4-4 MWC)

Order of Finish: Singles (6,1,5,3,U,U) Doubles (1,2,3)

Mountain West Conference Women’s Tennis Championship Quarterfinals