The sun waited at the top of the hills to see if TCU sophomoreSeda Arantekin’s match against Karyn Guttormsen would be pushed into a third set as the score sat at 5-3. Arantekin had the opportunity to end the game there, but Guttormsen held onto the lead and wouldn’t let go of the chance to extend the day’s play.
Both were evenly matched lobbing the ball back and forth and holding onto the set for all that it would give. When Guttormsen took the set 6-3, the sun tucked behind the trees while letting the courts’ lights illuminate the rest of the matches in third sets.
After winning almost every first set in singles, the Horned Frogs were pushed into third sets in four of their six matches, allowing the Cowgirls to come back and win.
The No. 20 TCU women’s tennis (11-7, 3-2 Big 12) was defeated by No. 11 Oklahoma State University (15-3, 2-1 Big 12) in Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center with a final score of 4-2 on Friday.
The Horned Frogs dominated the Cowgirls in singles during the first set of their matches, with TCU leading on five of six active courts. TCU freshman Alexis Pereira secured her first set’s victory with a 40 to love game, defeating Carla Tur Mari 6-1. Pereira later earned TCU’s first single point with a second set score of 6-2.
TCU senior Simona Parajova, ranked No. 44, secured the second singles point for the Frogs with a 6-3, 6-3 win during her sets. Parajova said she felt comfortable after completing her first set and moved into her second with a greater sense of ease.
“I knew I had to go for my shots,” Parajova said. “From the start I was nervous, but in the second set I had new legs and I knew everything would be fine.”
Oklahoma State’s Vladica Babic earned the Cowgirls their first point during singles with wins of 6-3 in the first set and 6-4 in the third set. It was Guttormsen who sealed the deal for the Cowboys with her second and third set.
It was a fight against time with Arantekin on one court and TCU senior Stefanie Tan, ranked No. 108, on another. Both were looking to round out the day’s sets. With Tan sitting in her set leading 5-3 40 to love, Guttormsen won with an advantage against Arantekin, securing the win for Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma State started out all doubles matches with a lead and held onto control during all three contests. The Cowgirls walked away with the doubles point with scores of 6-4, 6-2 and 6-4.
TCU will compete against another Oklahoma Big 12 competitor this weekend when they face off against the Sooners on Sunday. Athletes will begin with doubles matches at 1:00 p.m.
The Cowgirls came into today’s contest on a winning streak with recent victories over Princeton and Texas. The team will remain in Texas for the weekend to compete against Texas Tech in Lubbock on Sunday.
The Red Raiders competed against the Sooners on Friday and lost 4-1. As the Cowgirls hope to have the same success when they travel to Lubbock, the Frogs looks to snap their losing streak and get a win at home against Oklahoma.
