Tuesday, October 9, 2001

Tennis team takes two titles
By Quinten Boyd
Skiff Staff

The TCU women’s tennis team continued its solid play over the weekend, winning two titles at the Lady Seminole Classic held in Tallahassee, Fla.

This tournament and the TCU Invitational, which was held last month, are stepping stones to better things, head coach Roland Ingram said.

“Tournaments like these are individual, and it really gives the players a chance to improve,” Ingram said. “At this stage in the season, improving is better than winning.”

The Frogs ended the weekend by claiming two consolation titles.

In singles play, the consolation titles match featured an all-TCU affair. Senior Katrin Gaber captured the crown by defeating senior and fellow-teammate Leoni Weirich in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5. In doubles action, Gaber teamed with freshman Karla Mancinas to defeat South Florida’s Jamie Larson and Jackie Spicijaric, 8-6, to win the title.

In other matches, sophomore Paty Aburto lost her match in the third round against eventual tournament runner-up Anca Dumitrescu of Florida State.

Junior Rosa Perez was defeated in the third round by fourth-seeded Carolina Maurer of Auburn, and junior Brenna Shackelford lost in the second round to Miami’s Abby Smith.

“I was very happy with our play over the weekend,” Ingram said. “The teams here were some of the strongest competition that we have faced all year, and we were able to come home with two titles. The fall tournaments give us a chance to improve before team play begins.”

Ingram said he was very impressed with the play of his doubles teams.

“They (the doubles teams) gained a lot of experience this past weekend. They played against some of the strongest teams in the country and they saw a lot of lobs and overhead shots, something that they haven’t really seen a lot of,” he said. “It gave them a chance to use more of the court in their games, and they adjusted very well.”

The Frogs’ next tournament is at the Omni Hotels Regional Intercollegiate Tennis Association Championships, Oct. 19-22 at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center.

ngram is confident the Frogs will compete with the rest of the field. The tournament features regional teams from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

“The top finishers here move on to the national tournament,” Ingram said. “We have a great chance to do well in the tournament and just as good of a chance to send someone to nationals. The fall season leads up to the NCAA Tournament and the team tennis season, and our constant improvement is preparing us for the rest of the year.”

Quinten Boyd
q.m.boyd@student.tcu.edu