Each of the three opponents the women’s tennis team will host this week is coming to TCU with a winning streak.
The No. 17 Horned Frogs (13-7, 4-2 Big 12) will compete in their final nonconference match of the season against UT-Arlington on Wednesday before hosting two Big 12 matches this weekend.
UTA (13-4, 4-0 Sun Belt) is coming off a three-match winning-streak after hosting and defeating Louisiana-Lafayette (4-16, 1-5 Sun Belt), Arkansas State (3-11, 0-5 Sun Belt) and Louisiana-Monroe (13-5, 3-1 Sun Belt) at home over the weekend.
UTA coach Diego Benitez said after defeating Louisiana-Monroe 4-1 that he could see the confidence his team brought to their individual and team performances.
“We have been playing strong doubles the last few matches,” Benitez said earlier this season. “They have been working hard all season and they are seeing the benefits of their dedication.”
TCU will have a quick turnaround shortly after facing Iowa State (7-11, 2-4 Big 12) on Friday at home. The Cyclones have struggled when competing against Big 12 teams from Texas as they lost their last two home games against Texas, 2-4, and Baylor, 0-4.
The Cyclones, however, will have had nearly two full weeks to refocus and regroup before heading to Fort Worth to compete against the Horned Frogs. The last time Iowa State brought home a win was when they competed against Kansas State on the Wildcats’ home turf.
TCU will then look to beat West Virginia (9-8, 0-5 Big 12) on Sunday, wrapping up their week’s conference play. The Mountaineers have lost their last seven matches with five being conference competitions.
TCU competed against both of these Big 12 teams on the same weekend in 2014 and walked away with victories on both days. The Horned Frogs were ranked No. 57 last year then they defeated Iowa State 5-2 and shut out West Virginia 4-0.
The Horned Frogs enter this week’s games after shutting out North Texas (6-12, 1-1 Conference USA) last Wednesday in a 4-0 victory. This was TCU’s sixth shutout of the season.
North Texas started the day’s competition with a lead in doubles, but TCU’s teams of Simona Parajova/Stefanie Tan and Palina Dubavets/Alexis Pereira secured the doubles point for the Horned Frogs. Parajova and Tan defeated North Texas’ team Bardabush/Sprinkmeye 6-4 while Dubavets and Pereira defeated North Texas’ team Cordero/Valenzuela 7-5 pushing the game into extended play.
TCU women’s tennis head coach Lee Taylor Walker said it was encouraging to watch his athletes “steal back the point.”
Walker said his team had planned to practice hard before the holiday weekend, but stressed the team would then be able to relax and refocus for this week’s matches.
TCU is approaching the Big 12 Championships that will take place on April 23.
