Jan. 28, 2006

FORT WORTH, Texas - The No. 50 ranked TCU men's tennis team defeated No. 36 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi by a score of 5-2 Saturday afternoon at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. The Frogs improved to 5-1 in season openers under head coach Joey´ Rive.

"I think we played well," stated Rive´. "I think there was a little nervousness at first, but for the first match I think that it went extremely well."

Sophomore Cosmin Cotet and senior Radu Barbu scored the first victory (8-1) of the afternoon for the Frogs, defeating the Islanders Sharon Hensiljn and Jan Cingel at court No. 3. Barbu was also successful in singles playing, knocking off Cingel 6-1, 6-2 at court No. 5.

"I was ready today," stated Barbu. "We have been practicing hard during the fall and I feel we are ready for competition this season."

Senior Jordan Freitas and freshman Kriegler Brink clinched the doubles point for TCU by defeating Mikal Pavlov and Jose Zunino, 8-6, at court No. 2. Freitas found similar success in singles play, downing Henselijn by a score of 6-3, 6-3 at court No. 6.

Horned Frog newcomer Andrei Mlendea excelled in his debut, defeating Raul Rivas 6-2, 6-1 at court No. 2.

Senior co-captain Jacopo Tezza got into the win column in singles competition after a 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Zunino at court No. 4. Tezza paired with fellow senior and co-captain Rafael Abreu in doubles play.

With the win, TCU moved to 1-0 to start the 2006 season. The Frogs return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 8, when they host UT-Arlington. Match time is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.

Singles Results:
No. 1: Audrey Kumanstov def. Rafael Abreu, (4-6, 6-4, 6-4)
No. 2: Andrei Mlendea def. Raul Rivas, (6-2, 6-1)
No. 3: Mikal Pavlov def. Kriegler Brink, (6-3, 6-4)
No. 4: Jacopo Tezza def. Jose Zunino, (6-4, 6-1)
No. 5: Radu Barbu def. Jan Cingel, (6-1, 6-2)
No. 6: Jordan Freitas def. Sharon Henselijn, (6-3, 6-3)

Doubles Results:
No. 1: DNF
No. 2: Brink/Freitas def. Rivas/Zunino, 8-6
No. 3: Cotet/Barbu def. Hensilijn/Cingel, 8-1