March 17, 2005
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MATCHES #11 & #12:
#32 TCU (5-5) vs. #8 Florida (9-4)/#27 Florida State (9-5)
March 18/20 • Gainesville/Tallahassee, Fla. • 1 p.m./noon CST
ABOUT THE MATCHES
The No. 32 TCU Horned Frogs (5-5) look to end their four-match skid this weekend when they travel to the Sunshine State to face the No. 8 Florida Gators (9-4) and the No. 27 Florida State Seminoles (9-5). The Frogs play the Gators at 1 p.m. CST Friday and the Noles at noon Sunday. Florida's four losses this year came to Illinois, Mississippi, UCLA and Baylor, all teams ranked among the top 10. FSU has dropped matches to Illinois, Notre Dame, Florida, N.C. State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Gators boast four players in the singles rankings led by Greg Oullette at 29th. Next in the rankings is Hamid Mirzadeh at No. 41, followed by Chris Brandi (No. 51) and Vlad Obradovic (No. 78). Janne Holmia and Oullette are rated 20th in doubles. Brandi, who is originally from Gainesville, Fla., played for TCU his freshman year in 2001-02 before transferring to UF. Florida State's lone player among the singles rankings is Mat Cloer at 83rd. Cloer teams with Ytai Abougzir to form the nation's No. 42-ranked doubles tandem. Jeff Groslimond and Chris Westerhof are also ranked in doubles for the Seminoles at No. 60. TCU has ties to FSU as well. Head coach Joey Rivé played for the Seminoles in the 1980s and later earned his bachelor's degree from FSU in 1993.
LIVE SCORING THIS WEEKEND
Horned Frog fans have the opportunity to follow the action as it unfolds when TCU plays Florida Friday at 1 p.m. CST. The official Web site of the Gators, www.gatorzone.com, will provide live scoring of the match.
A RICH NCAA HISTORY
The Horned Frogs have a rich tradition of excellence in the NCAA Tournament. TCU has made 19 appearances in the event since the current team format was adopted in 1977. TCU has been in every tourney since 1991 and made 17 of the past 18 NCAAs. The Purple and White owns a record of 25-19 in the tournament and has made three appearances (1989, 1996, 2001) in the national semifinals. TCU has also reached at least the NCAA quarterfinals on seven occasions (1982, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001). In the individual championships, TCU had a string of 27 consecutive appearances from 1975 to 2001. During that span, TCU won one doubles title, coming in 1981 with Karl Richter and David Pate. In 1996, Ashley Fisher and Jason Weir-Smith finished as the runner-ups. Several Horned Frogs reached the round of 16 in singles, but Esteban Carril is the only one to advance to the quarterfinals. Carril made his run his sophomore year in 1999.
HORNED FROGS IN THE RANKINGS
Fabrizio Sestini is the lone Horned Frog among the current singles rankings, coming in at a career-high 21st. He is also listed in the doubles ratings at No. 13 with Rafael Abreu. Sestini and Abreu have been as high as eighth.
RIVE RECORD BREAKDOWN
Head coach Joey Rivé is in his fifth season with TCU, boasting a 74-37 (.667) record with the Horned Frogs. In his five years, the Frogs have gone 48-11 (.814) in home matches, 9-18 (.333) in away matches and 17-8 (.680) when playing on neutral ground.
C-USA PRAISE THIS SEASON
TCU is once again cleaning up on the Conference USA awards this season. Fabrizio Sestini won at least a share of Player of the Month honors for September, October and November. He shared the honor with his doubles partner, Rafael Abreu, in November. Sestini took home the first Player of the Week accolade in January as well.
