Despite back-to-back conference games over the weekend, TCU women’s tennis showed fortitude when they secured the win against the UAB Blazers Monday night.
The No. 21 Horned Frogs are now 11-6 in the season.
Head coach Lee Taylor Walker decided to change up the duo pairs to give the players a chance to work with someone else.
“We mixed up our doubles formation just to kind of pair them with someone new,” Walker said. “The doubles point was pretty close and that is common when you throw them out there with new people.”
Duo pair Alexis Pereira and Seda Arantekin defeated UAB players Pardis Kianoush and Elaine Simon 6-4. Simona Parajova and Sofiko Kadzhaya then defeated UAB’s Rachel Daniel and Amy Lowther 6-2.
TCU was able to pull through and take the point in the doubles competition.
The sun began to set at the start of the singles competition.
All six tennis courts were in action and all six TCU players won their first set. Going into the second set, players seemed frustrated.
Stefanie Tan was throwing her head back and Parajova was pacing back and forth.
Parajova defeated Rachel Daniel in the second set, 6-1, before Pereira defeated Catherine Ragon 6-3, and Arantekin defeated Lowther 6-1.
Walker said that unlike the doubles, TCU was pretty much in control the whole time during the singles match.
The individual wins secured the point in the singles competition.
Walker said the ladies will spend the next few days resting up and preparing for the upcoming home meets. The team will return to conference play with back-to-back matches against Oklahoma State and Oklahoma this week.
“It will be a challenge because the girls need to be fresh,” Walker said. “We will be off tomorrow and really light practices Wednesday and Thursday so hopefully we can win.”
During intermission, UAB head coach Mark Tjia was recognized for the time and effort he put towards the TCU tennis program. Tjia is in his first season as head coach at UAB after coaching the Frogs during the previous three seasons.
Tjia showed Horned Frog pride when he threw up a “Go Frogs” hand sign during the TCU’s alma mater at the end of the match.
