Nov. 5, 2003

FORT WORTH, Texas

For the second consecutive month, a member of the TCU men's tennis squad took home Conference USA Men's Tennis Athlete of the Month, the league announced Wednesday. Junior Fabrizio Sestini was the honoree for October, joining senior Alex Menichini who was recognized for his September performance. Sestini and sophomore Rafael Abreu departed Fort Worth today for Ann Arbor, Mich., to compete in the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships as a doubles team.

Sestini, ranked 63rd in the ITA fall poll, posted a 5-3 record in singles during the month of October for the Horned Frogs. He reached the quarterfinals of the Midland Open, defeating Eduardo Gutierrez of Tulsa, 6-0, 6-1, and Texas' Will Clinton, 7-5, 6-4, before falling to Duke's Jonathan Stokke.

At the ITA South Central Regional Championships in Fort Worth, Sestini made another quarterfinal appearance, notching his first win of the fall over a ranked opponent by downing No. 68 Ivor Lovrak of Baylor, 7-5, 7-6. Sestini, teaming exclusively Abreu, was unstoppable in doubles. The pair claimed the championship crown, giving them a berth in the ITA National Indoors.

"Fabrizio started a little slow this fall but has really picked it up," said TCU Head Coach Joey Rivé. "He established himself as one of the better players in the county at the ITA Regional. He has worked very hard this fall and done a great job for us."

Sestini and Abreu's appearance at the indoors will mark the first time since 1996 that a TCU doubles team has appeared in the championships. The last Horned Frog pair was Paul Robinson and Dave Roditi.