Men's tennis upsets TCU

[PonyPride]

#57 men's tennis upsets #29 TCU
Mustangs improve to 14-5 on the season

April 4, 2006

DALLAS (SMU) - In a hotly contested match-up and rivalry, the men's tennis team pulled a huge upset as they defeated #27 TCU, 4-3, this afternoon at the Haggar Tennis Stadium in the 50th meeting between the two schools. The Mustangs rallied for the huge win improving their overall record to 14-5 and taking an important step in the right direction for momentum in the conference tournament.

"It was a fantastic match," head coach Carl Neufeld said. "That is the way our matches seem to be every year - down to the wire. They guys fought till the end. I thought there was a lot of focus, determination and energy. I'm equally happy that according to form, we are getting better. This win couldn't come at a better time as it is best to peak at the end of the season. I think we took a good step in where we wanted to be for the conference tournament."

The Mustangs started off strong by winning the doubles point. At No. 2, Oivind Alver and Peter Oredsson battled long and hard for a, 9-8 (4), win over Jacopo Tezza and Kriegler Brink.

"No. 2 doubles fought from behind for the win and what turned out to be an instrumental part in winning the match," Neufeld said. "There were more turns than a road race."

Another win came at No. 3 as the duo of Federico Murgier and Henrik Soderberg overturned Radu Barbu and Andrei Mlendea, 8-5. Alex Skrypko and David Kuczer had a tough match against #48 Rafael Abreu and Jordan Freitas, as the SMU pair fell, 8-6.
 
"Every match was hotly contested," Neufeld said. "The doubles lasted about one and half hours and I think that is the longest I have seen as a coach."

In singles action, the Mustangs saw impressive wins. At No. 4, Kuczer controlled Freitas for a, 6-4, 6-3, win while Alver triumphed over Brink, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 6. Soderberg was unable to overcome Barbu at No. 5 as he fell, 6-4, 6-4. Murgier fell to #40 Mlendea at No. 2, 7-5, 6-1.

With the Mustangs ahead 3-2, SMU had to win one of the last two matches going on at No. 1 and 3. Skrypko battled with Tezza at No. 3, winning the first set with a tiebreaker. Skrypko the won three straight games in the second set for a commanding win over Tezza, notching his 16th win this spring and the Mustang victory. #33 Oredsson and #96 Abreu had a competitively tough match-up at No. 1. The sets were split going into the final set, but Oredsson was not able to rise above Abreu as he fell, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The Mustangs head to take on #17 Notre Dame on Sat., April 8 at 1 p.m.


Tennis Match Results
TCU vs SMU
Apr 04, 2006 at Dallas, Texas

#57 SMU 4, #29 TCU 3

Singles competition
1. #96 Rafael Abreu (TCU) def. #33 Peter Oredsson (SMU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. #40 Andrei Mlendea (TCU) def. Federico Murgier (SMU) 7-5, 6-1
3. Alex Skrypko (SMU) def. Jacopo Tezza (TCU) 7-6, 7-5
4. David Kuczer (SMU) def. Jordan Freitas (TCU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Radu Barbu (TCU) def. Henrik Soderberg (SMU) 6-4, 6-4
6. Oivind Alver (SMU) def. Kriegler Brink (TCU) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. #48 Rafael Abreu/Jordan Freitas (TCU) def. Alex Skrypko/David Kuczer (SMU) 8-6
2. Oivind Alver/Peter Oredsson (SMU) def. Jacopo Tezza/Kriegler Brink (TCU) 9-8
3. Federico Murgier/Henrik Soderberg (SMU) def. Radu Barbu/Andrei Mlendea (TCU) 8-5

[PK]

Way to go team and Coach Carl. Looks like the purple toads are having a hard time with the ponies this year... including the fall game...21-10!!!!

[Corso]

So what's our all-sports record against TCU this year?

Way to go, Ponies!