Recapping the 2015-16 Season
6/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
FORT WORTH, Texas - After losing two of their top players to graduation, the 2015-16 season and second season under the helm of Lee Taylor Walker could have been seen as rebuilding, but the team never saw it that way.
TCU was picked to finish fifth in the Big 12, but never let that stop them as they upset the preseason favorites to open conference action and fought all the way to a tie for second place in the league and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship for the second straight season. And all of this was accomplished with a roster full of newcomers and transfers.
"I am really proud of the team for what they accomplished this year and for the momentum we have for next year and the years to come," Walker said. "Not many people realize that we played with five new players this year. Regardless of whether that's a mix of transfers, redshirts or people sitting out from injury, it's hard to organize and build chemistry quickly when more than half your team is in their first year competing for TCU. Although that was a great challenge, we had a unique group of girls that laid their selfish desires aside for the sake of the team and because of that, we were able to achieve some really nice things individually and collectively."
This team full of newcomers and transfers will be a seasoned bunch next year and the goals and expectations will be at an all-time high for the 2016-17 season.
"We have everyone back next year with the addition of two new players," Walker said. "Although Mia (King) is finished with her eligibility, she will be heavily involved in the locker room and have a great influence on our success next year as an undergraduate student assistant. I'm just thrilled about getting this group back in a few months and picking up where we left off. Where we left off is being in position to beat a top-10 team on the road in Miami and qualifying for Sweet 16. Our girls know we are capable now. Seeing Oklahoma State make the finals and seeing Texas Tech and Texas make Sweet 16 is inspiring for our team. We didn't believe we could win the Big 12 and make the Sweet 16 this year. We wanted to and thought it was possible, but we didn't believe we should and could at a deeper level. Now we do. That, combined with hard work and a deeper roster will put us in position to beat anyone next year."
Welcome Transfers
This past season, TCU had three transfers on the roster this season that made a huge impact. Caroline Wegner followed Head Coach Walker from Memphis and sat out due to NCAA transfer rules last season. Wegner spent a whole year improving her skills and became one of the most consistent singles and doubles players for the Frogs. TCU also picked up senior Mia King for her final season of eligibility after three years playing at Georgia. The Charlotte, N.C., native played doubles in every match except for one and could be seen on court three with fellow transfer Olaya Garrido-Rivas. Garrido-Rivas was the final transfer to join TCU after spending her first two seasons at USF. Garrido-Rivas was considered the "spark" on the court for the Frogs and rode one of the longest winning streaks in singles during the 2015-16 season.
Doubles Success
TCU found great success in doubles this season by taking the doubles point in 14 of the team's 22 matches where doubles was played. The Frogs had a streak of winning the doubles point in eight straight matches starting with the Feb. 25 win over SMU and ending with the April 1 victory over Kansas. TCU posted two victories this season after having lost the doubles point and that was in the 4-1 victory over Kansas State and the 4-3 comeback over Wichita State in the NCAA First Round.
TCU has always had one doubles pair ranked all season long in the Oracle/ITA doubles poll. Seda Arantekin was ranked in the preseason poll at No. 40 with freshman Marie Norris, but after a successful fall, which included a trip to the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championship, Arantekin was then ranked with Caroline Wegner. The duo started at No. 17 and climbed to as high as No. 16, which was a career-high for the pair. The two juniors ended the season with a 21-8 overall record with three wins over ranked opponents and a final Oracle/ITA ranking of No. 36.
"Seda and Caroline played some amazing doubles this year at times and I'm glad to see that they will be a returning as a top-20 team next year," Walker said. "That sets them up well for the ITA All-American Championships, which will be a great opportunity. Down the stretch of the season, Olaya, Seda and Caroline were playing some of their best tennis. They will each have some great opportunities at big individual tournaments this fall and it will be nice to have a group of seniors like that to lead the way."
Reaching 700
Win No. 700 in program history came in dramatic fashion, as TCU scored the victory in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship with a come-from-behind 4-3 upset of No. 29 Wichita State. The Frogs dropped the doubles point, but won four singles matches to snap the Shockers 17-match winning streak. The final point came down to Arantekin who was playing at the No. 1 position for the first time in her career. The junior upset her first ranked opponent in 2015-16 in No. 91 Gabriela Porubin with a 6-3, 7-6(3) win to move the team into the second round for the ninth time in program history.
Big 12 Surprise
After being picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 standings to start the season, TCU did not let that detour them as they started conference action with a bang. The Frogs upset No. 11 and Big 12 preseason favorites Texas Tech, 4-0, in Lubbock to open league play. The win over the Red Raiders marked the second straight season TCU defeated a top-15 ranked opponent. The Frogs started the Big 12 Conference season 3-0 for the third time in the last four seasons since joining the league in 2012 and finished in a five-way tie for second place. The tie for second place in the conference standings marked the second straight season TCU has finished No. 2 in the league. Seeded No. 2 in the Big 12 Championship, the Frogs earned a first round bye for the fourth straight season and earned a spot in the semifinals for the second straight season.
Year Notables
-After starting the season 2-2, TCU won 14 of its last 19 matches including a three-match winning streak to finish out the regular season
-TCU had a nine-match winning streak during the regular season with eight of the matches won taking place within the friendly confines of the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center
-TCU defeated seven ranked opponents in 2015-16
-TCU returned only three letterwinners from a season ago while the rest of the team consisted of transfers and newcomers
-Only two of the letterwinners from last year were in the lineup on a consistent basis while all the other spots were filled with transfers and newcomers
-TCU finished the season ranked No. 31 in the final Oracle/ITA poll which is the second straight season and third time in the last four years they have finished inside the top 35
-Arantekin was named to the All-Big 12 Doubles First Team with Wegner and the All-Big 12 Singles Second Team
-Garrido-Rivas was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year marking the second player to earn the honor in program history and second in the last three seasons
Players Mentioned
