TCU
SMU Invitational
Duo Victorious at SMU Invitational
10/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
FORT WORTH, Texas - Two members of the TCU women's tennis team won their respective singles draws this past weekend of the SMU Invitational in Dallas, Texas as the team wrapped up the first half of fall action.
Sophomore Aleksandra Zenovka and junior Sofiko Kadzhaya each posted three straight wins in the Red Draw and White Draw, respectively, to claim the singles titles. Senior Mia King also advanced to the finals of the Black Draw, before ultimately falling in the championship match. King also paired up with junior Olaya Garrido-Rivas to claim the consolation side of the Blue Draw in doubles.
Zenovka had to battle her way to the title and needed three sets in all of her victories at the invitational. The sophomore opened by defeating Vivienne Kulicke of UTEP (6-4, 3-6, 6-3), before downing Big 12 foe Carolina Costamagna of Kansas State (5-7, 6-4, 6-2). Zenovka faced Alexandra Starkova of Louisiana Tech in the finals and after dropping the first set, she stormed back to win the final two sets, 6-2, 6-3, to win his first singles crown.
Kadzhaya breezed to the title in her draw and started with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Kaysie Hemsdorf of Abilene Christian. The junior then faced a familiar foe in Livia Cirnu of Kansas State and came away with the 6-2, 7-5 win. Kadzhaya wrapped up the invitational by taking out Astrid Gehre of UTA, 6-4, 6-2.
Quotes from the Weekend
Head Coach Lee Taylor Walker
"I am extremely excited for Aleksandra and the hard work that she has put in this fall. She was hurt all of last year and struggled out there, but she is playing very hard right now. Sofiko has won five straight matches and has so much consistency to her play right now. We have now reached the halfway point of the fall season and this is a good time for the girls to take a break from competition and just focus on training for the regional championships that are coming up."
SMU Invitational Results
Doubles
Red Draw
Thoms/Gehre (UTA) def. Zenovka/Kadzhaya (TCU): 6-2
Zenovka/Kadzhaya (TCU) def. Walker/Hemsdorf (ACU): 6-3
Bulgakova/Sharapova (SMU) def. Zenovka/ Kadzhaya (TCU): 6-4
Blue Draw
Britos/Sramkova (La Tech) def. King/Garrido-Rivas (TCU): 6-2
King/Garrido-Rivas (TCU) def. Jurasic/Breaux (Arkansas): 6-2
King/Garrido-Rivas (TCU) def. Ivanova/Vardanian (NSU): 6-3
Singles
Red Draw
Aleksandra Zenovka (TCU) def. Vivienne Kulicke (UTEP): 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Aleksandra Zenovka (TCU) def. Carolina Costamagna (KSU): 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
Aleksandra Zenovka (TCU) def. Alexandra Starkova (La Tech): 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Mustang Draw
Mia Jurasic (Arkansas) def. Olaya Garrido-Rivas (TCU): 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
Lucie Pothier (ACU) def. Olaya Garrido-Rivas (TCU): 6-3, 6-3
Olaya Garrido-Rivas (TCU) def. Duda Santos (UTEP): 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
White Draw
Sofiko Kadzhaya (TCU) def. Kaysie Hemsdorf (ACU): 6-3, 6-1
Sofiko Kadzhaya (TCU) def. Livia Cirnu (KSU): 6-2, 7-5
Sofiko Kadzhaya (TCU) def. Astrid Gehre (UTA): 6-4, 6-2
Black Draw
Mia King (TCU) def. Millie Stretton (KSU): 6-1, 7-5
Mia King (TCU) def. Macie Elliot (SMU): 6-3, 6-2
Agustina Serio (UTA) def. Mia King (TCU): 6-4, 6-3
Up Next
Select members of the TCU women's tennis team will take part in the Rock Hill $25K Pro Circuit Event, while the rest of the team will take a break before traveling to College Station, Texas to compete in the USTA/ITA Texas Regional Championships starting on Oct. 22 on the campus of Texas A&M.
Players Mentioned
