April 15, 2006
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The 20th-ranked TCU women's tennis team finished Mountain West Conference play as strong as it started with a decisive 7-0 victory versus 33rd-ranked San Diego State to claim the 2006 regular-season title. Since conference play began on March 24, the Frogs have swept four opponents and surrendered only five individual matches on their way to a perfect 8-0 record and a No. 1 seed in the conference tournament slated to begin on April 26 in San Diego, Calif. For TCU, it is the first outright conference regular-season title since claiming the 1991 SWC title.
"We really played well," explained Borelli. "It was probably the best match of the year. I was really impressed with the kids and how decisive they were on the courts."
As a first year member of the Mountain West Conference, the Frogs quickly established dominance by sweeping its first three opponents. TCU only got stronger as the season went on and posted a 6-1 win over defending conference champion and 26th-ranked BYU on April 7.
The Frogs took over first place in the standings after BYU defeated 40th-ranked New Mexico the following day.
With a lead in the race to the regular-season crown, the Frogs did not look back. TCU distanced itself from New Mexico with a 5-2 triumph on Thursday and clinched at least a share of the title with a 5-2 victory versus UNLV on Friday.
For the match, the tandem of sophomore Andrea Morgado and freshman Anna Sydorska picked up the first win of the day with an 8-1 decision over Alesya Vidov and Milana Yusupov at No. 2.
Sophomores Nicole Leimbach and Kewa Nichols clinched the doubles point for the Frogs with an 8-3 decision at No. 3 over Esther Cadua and Eliska Krausova.
The No. 26 doubles team of senior Helena Besovic and junior Ana Cetnik finished strong and completed the sweep for TCU with an 8-3 triumph at No. 1 over Dita Hauerlandova and Sisse Nielson.
"Ana and particularly Helena were really instrumental on the team being solid," Borelli continued. "I was so impressed with their play."
Besovic's play has impressed all season. The senior from Sarajevo, Bosnia, has been perfect since Feb. 27 and ran her win streak to 15 matches with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Vidov at No. 2.
Senior Gloriann Lopez gave the Frogs a 3-0 match advantage and put the team within one point of claiming the title with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 6 over Cadua.
No. 12 Leimbach clinched the match for TCU with a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 1 over No. 84 Hauerlandova.
"The kids fought hard throughout the match," echoed Borelli. "I was really impressed how they kept playing so hard after the match was clinched because they wanted to finish strong."
Cetnik, ranked 119th in the ITA singles poll, ran the match tally to 5-0 after knocking off Yusopov 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4. For Cetnik, it is her eight-straight victory.
83rd-ranked Sydorska added a 6-4, 3-6, (11-9) victory at No. 3 and Nichols closed the match with a thrilling 4-6, 7-6(3), (10-6) win at No. 5.
"This is great, now we have focus on a new season." "We would like to win our conference tournament and then head to the NCAA Tournament ready to play."
With the No. 1 overall seed in the Mountain West Conference tournament, the Frogs will enjoy a first-round bye before taking on the winner of the No. 8 versus the No. 9 seed.
With the win, TCU improved to 17-6 overall. The Frogs will wrap up the regular season when they head to UT-Arlington for a Thursday showdown. Match time is slated for 2 p.m.
No. 20 TCU def. No. 33 San Diego State, 7-0
Doubles
1. No. 26 Bersovic/Cetnik (TCU) def. Hauerlandova/Nielsen (SDSU) 8-3
2. Sydorska/Morgado (TCU) def. Vidov/Yusupov (SDSU) 8-1
3. Nichols/Leimbach (TCU) def. Krausova/Cadua (SDSU) 8-3
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1. No. 12 Nicole Leimbach (TCU) def. No. 84 Dita Hauerlandova (SDSU) 6-2, 6-2
2. No. 33 Helena Besovic (TCU) def. Alesya Vidov (SDSU) 6-1, 6-1
3. No. 83 Anna Sydorska (TCU) def. Eliska Krausova (SDSU) 6-4, 3-6, 11-9
4. No. 119 Ana Cetnik (TCU) def. Milana Yusupov (SDSU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Kewa Nichols (TCU) def. Sisse Nielsen (SDSU) 4-6, 7-6 (3), 10-6
6. Gloriann Lopez (TCU) def. Esther Cadua (SDSU) 6-1, 6-2
Order of Finish: 2, 6, 1, 4, 3, 5
