March 31, 2005
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MATCH #15:
#39 TCU (5-9) vs. #32 Rice (9-5)
April 1, 2005 • Houston • 2 p.m. CST
ABOUT THE MATCH
The No. 39 TCU men's tennis team (5-9) looks to stop an eight-match skid in Houston Friday when it faces the No. 32 Rice Owls (9-5) at 2 p.m. CST at Jake Hess Tennis Stadium. It is the first of two matches that day for the Owls, as they take on Lamar in the evening. TCU is coming off a 7-0 defeat at the hands of No. 1-ranked Baylor, while Rice suffered a 4-3 setback to No. 25 Middle Tennessee State in the championship match of the Hilton Houston Plaza Rice Invitational. The Frogs lost a 4-3 decision to the Owls last season in Fort Worth, Texas, snapping a string of 18 consecutive victories over their intrastate rival. TCU's last trip to Houston in April 2003 ended in a 4-0 triumph for the Horned Frogs. Rice is led by Robert Searle, who is ranked 41st in singles.
LIVE MATCH SCORING AT HOME
Live match scoring for home matches via the Internet is back for a second season this spring. It is featured on the official Web site of TCU athletics, www.GoFrogs.com. Updates from the match are given periodically as the players progress and the order of finish, along with match notes, are also available on the page.
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 20th. 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 74-41 (.643) record with the Horned Frogs. In his five years, the Frogs have gone 48-11 (.814) in home matches, 9-22 (.290) 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.
