Cold temperatures could not keep the No. 36 Horned Frogs’ rackets from heating up against the UT-Pan American Broncs as TCU won their first match of the semester.The Frogs swept the doubles competition with three consecutive match wins. The team was led by a win from the tandem of sophomore Kriegler Brink and freshman Caleb Bulls who dispatched their opponents 8-3.
The singles matches showed the Horned Frogs’ dominance as they did not surrender one set to the Broncs.
Junior Cosmin Cotet erased his opponent, Gary Bianco, in straight sets (6-0, 6-1) on the center court.
Cotet’s performance earned praise from head coach Dave Borelli.
“He did really well,” Borelli said. “We have been working on getting him to let go of a point that he’s lost and just to enjoy himself.”
Cotet and junior Stuart Row defeated Rosendo Cantu in similar fashion with a 6-1, 6-0 win.
The third match to reach completion for the Frogs was between Brink and Nirvick Mohinta of the Broncs. Brink had trouble finding his rhythm in the first set as he had to return from a two-game deficit. Brink’s traditional serve and volley style was being met with little success during the first four games of the set. Borelli had Brink make some adjustments to his approach, and soon Brink found himself in a groove and finished the match 7-5, 6-0.
“The balls were ‘heavier’ because it was colder outside,” Borelli said. “Once he started rushing the net better, he became focused and got back on track.”
The highlight of the afternoon came on court two when graduate transfer Chris Biro played in a marathon match against David Lopez-Heredia. After going through a 40-minute game in the second set, Biro came out on top of the opposition.
“The other guy was serving and he was able to dictate the play,” Borelli said. “Once it was a neutral point, Chris (Biro) was able to control it.”
Everyone won their matches giving TCU the team victory as a whole and Borelli his first official win as head coach of the men’s team.
“I am lucky to spend my first match win with these kids,” Borelli said.
Friday will mark the second match for the Frogs this semester where they face the No. 23 Clemson Tigers.
