TCU Stumbles in Big 12 Quarterfinals

Friday, April 19

Lawrence, Kan.

Noon

TCU

#20 Kansas

TCU Stumbles in Big 12 Quarterfinals

4/19/2019 4:50:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Kansas 4, TCU 1 (PDF)

The Horned Frogs suffered a 4-1 loss to tournament host Kansas on Friday.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (April 19, 2019) – The TCU women's tennis team took No. 20 Kansas to the brink but stumbled as the Jayhawks came away with the 4-1 victory on Friday afternoon in the quarterfinal match at the 2019 Big 12 Tennis Championships at the Jayhawk Tennis Center in Lawrence, Kan.

Kansas (17-4) proved to have the upper hand in doubles action as the Jayhawks were able to nab the wins on courts one and three to get the early 1-0 lead in the match. The Horned Frogs (12-10) did not back down from the challenge and continued to fight for points in singles matches.

The Jayhawks got the win on court five but sophomore Aleksa Cveticanin responded and gave TCU a point as the sophomore picked up the 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 104 Janet Koch on court two. Kansas got another win on court six for a 3-1 lead, but the Frogs continued to fight and forced third sets on two of the remaining courts. The Jayhawks were able to finish off the match on court four as Kate Paulus fell to Sonia Smagina in straight sets to give Kansas the overall match victory.

Quotes from the Match
Head Coach Lee Taylor Walker
"Our game plan was psychological more than anything. We've been really close all year long. Our girls trust that they are right there and believe that they have to come out and play amazing, but at the same time, just play their game. When you come up short over and over and over, you can start to convince yourself that you're actually not that good. I felt like we had to psychologically prepare for, 'Hey, we don't need to play amazing'. I thought for the most part we did that. I think we were maybe a little too hyped in some places. We've been getting a lot of doubles points and I think that Kansas was one of the best doubles opponents we've had all year long. That's a point we value a lot, so not getting that doubles point hurt. As you can see, we picked up some momentum (with a win on court two) and it looked like we might win on court one. We may have gotten that one and we thought one of those (matches) could have gone to a third set, on courts four or six. But Kansas is good and you're playing them on their home court."

"Overall, it was a good match. I'm proud of our team. I hate it for the girls that they never quite got over the hump this year, being so close. But we've got a young team – no seniors – so hopefully we will use that as momentum for next year."

Match Results
TCU vs Kansas Jayhawks
4/19/2019 at Lawrence, Kan.
(Jayhawk Tennis Center)
#20 Kansas Jayhawks 4, TCU 1

Singles competition
1. #22 Anastasia Rychagova (KU) vs. #51 Ellie Douglas (TCU) 6-2, 5-7, 1-4, unfinished
2. Aleksa Cveticanin (TCU) def. #104 Janet Koch (KU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Ploburng Plipuech (KU) vs. Mercedes Aristegui (TCU) 1-6, 6-3, 2-2, unfinished
4. Sonia Smagina (KU) def. Kate Paulus (TCU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
5. Nina Khmelnitckaia (KU) def. Chloe Hule (TCU) 6-1, 6-3
6. Maria Toran Ribas (KU) def. Stevie Kennedy (TCU) 7-5, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. #3 Janet Koch/Nina Khmelnitckaia (KU) def. #35 Ellie Douglas/Aleksa Cveticanin (TCU) 6-3
2. #71 Anastasia Rychagova/Sonia Smagina (KU) vs. Chloe Hule/Stevie Kennedy (TCU) 4-4, unfinished
3. Maria Toran Ribas/Malkia Ngounoue (KU) def. Mercedes Aristegui/Kate Paulus (TCU) 6-1

Match Notes:
TCU 12-10
Kansas Jayhawks 17-4; National ranking #20
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (5,2,6,4)
T-2:35

Up Next
TCU will await its fate in NCAA Tennis Championships with the team selection show taking place on Monday, April 29, while the singles and doubles selection show will air on Tuesday, April 30.