TCU Advances to the Quarterfinals

Thursday, April 20

Lawrence, KS

10 a.m.

TCU

West Virginia

TCU Advances to the Quarterfinals

4/21/2023 6:30:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Frogs Sweep the Mountaineers

Lawrence, Kan. – TCU is moving on to the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament following a 4-0 sweep of the Mountaineers at the Sports Pavilion Lawrence.

The Horned Frogs (13-8) found their stride in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament. TCU found aid from some unlikely heroes against West Virginia (11-12).

TCU did some shuffling with their lineup on Thursday afternoon which paid off. Yu-Chin Tsai and Helena Narmont got the ball rolling in doubles with a 6-1 win over Michaela Kucharova and Momoko Nagato on the No. 2 court.

On the first singles court, Jade Otway and Mercedes Aristegui completed the doubles point defeating Camilla Bossi and Ting-Pei Chang, 6-2.

In singles play, Aristegui and Otway did their part to set the tone in postseason play. The sophomore Otway dropped just two games her singles match. Following a 6-0 sweep in the first set, the sophomore jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second set. After giving up two games, she secured the win (6-0, 6-2).

Merche moved up to the first singles spot and played West Virginia's Bossi. The Spaniard excelled at the No. 1 spot and took the win in straight sets (6-3, 6-1).

Up three games to none, the Horned Frogs turned Margaret Polk on court No. 6. Polk, who has not appeared in a match since March 6 against Richmond came prepared to play. The senior answered the call when her team needed her most and clinched her team's 13^th win of the year (6-4, 6-4).

The Horned Frogs celebrated the victory, but they now have their sights set on the Texas Longhorns.

Head Coach Lee Taylor Walker was impressed by what he saw in round one.
"Really good start for our post-season play today. The doubles point was great. Played very aggressively and held our leads with solid serving and net play to close out doubles quickly. For singles, it was all positive. Jade and Merche were dominant, and Yuki Hels and Denny all fought back and were building confidence. But the player of the day goes to Margaret Polk. We needed her to step in and step up and she did. She's been through a lot this year and has remained positive and resilient. Was so stinking proud of her today. It was a much-deserved clinch for her."

DOUBLES DRAWS
1 Mercedes Aristegui and Jade Otway (TCU) def. Camilla Bossi and Ting-Pei Chang (WVU) 6-2
2 Helena Narmont and Yu-Chin Tsai (TCU) def. Michaela Kucharova and Momoko Nagato (WVU) 6-1
3 Tiphanie Lemaitre and Destinee Martins (TCU) vs. Maja Dodik and Tatiana Lipatova (WVU) match was unfinished 5-3
SINGLES DRAWS
1 Mercedes Aristegui (TCU) def. Camilla Bossi (WVU) 6-3 6-1
2 Destinee Martins (TCU) vs. Ting-Pei Chang (WVU) match was unfinished 5-7 6-2 4-2
3 Yu-Chin Tsai (TCU) vs. Momoko Nagato (WVU) match was unfinished 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 1-2
4 Jade Otway (TCU) def. Maja Dodik (WVU) 6-0 6-2
5 Helena Narmont (TCU) vs. Tatiana Lipatova (WVU) match was unfinished 4-6 6-6 (3-3)
6 Margaret Polk (TCU) def. Pei-Ju Hsieh (WVU) 6-4 6-4

MATCH NOTES
Order of finish:
Singles -- 1 4 6 ; Doubles -- 2 1

Up Next: TCU will match up with the Horns Friday, April 21 at 3 p.m. at the Jayhawk Tennis Center.