March 27, 2006
FORT WORTH, Texas - The No. 32 TCU men's tennis team suffered a 5-2 setback to No. 26 California on Monday afternoon at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. Despite the match already clinched, senior
Jacopo Tezza battled back from a one-set deficit to down Daniel Sebescen 1-6, 6-3, (10-2).
California was able to win two-of-three doubles matches to claim a 1-0 lead. John Pettit and Sebescen paired at court No. 3 for an 8-2 victory over Tezza and freshman Kriegler Brink.
TCU's sophomore tandem of Cosmin Cotet and Andrei Mlendea ousted Lennart Maack and Dean Wallace to even the doubles tally. Cal's Conor Niland and Tyler Browne, ranked 57th in the ITA doubles poll, downed 33rd-ranked Rafael Abreu and Jordan Freitas 9-7 to clinch the doubles point.
The Bears won the first three singles matches to clinch the victory and improve to 10-4 on the season.
Junior Radu Barbu had an impressive showing on court No. 5, blasting the Bears' Ken Nakahara 6-0, 6-3.
After falling in the first set 6-1, Tezza willed his way to a 1-6, 6-3, (10-2) victory to bump his 2006 record to 10-1.
With the loss, TCU fell to 7-6 on the year. The Frogs return to action on Wednesday for a home doubleheader versus Wichita State at 2 p.m. and Abilene Christian at 6 p.m.
No. 26 California def. No. 32 TCU, 5-2
Singles
1. No. 11 Connor Niland (CAL) def. No. 64 Andrei Mlendea (TCU) 6-3, 6-1
2. No. 122 Tyler Browne (CAL) def. No. 70 Rafael Abreu (TCU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Lennart Maack (CAL) def. Cosmin Cotet (TCU) 6-0, 6-4
4. Jacopo Tezza (TCU) def. Daniel Sebescen (CAL) 1-6, 6-3, (10-2)
5. Radu Barbu (TCU) def. Ken Nakahara (CAL) 6-0, 6-3
6. Dean Wallace (CAL) def. Jordan Freitas (TCU) 6-0, 6-3
Order of Finish: 6, 2, 3, 5, 1, 4
Doubles
1. No. 57 Niland/Browne (CAL) def. No. 33 Abreu/Freitas (TCU) 9-7
2. Cotet/Mlendea (TCU) def. Maack/Wallace (CAL) 8-5
3. Pettit/Sebescen (CAL) def. Brink/Tezza (TCU) 8-2
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
