Top-Seeded TCU Advances to Second Straight Mountain West Conference Men's Tennis Championship Match

April 24, 2009

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -

The first-seeded TCU men's tennis team (12-10, 5-1 MWC) notched a 4-2 victory over fifth-seeded San Diego State (15-12, 2-3 MWC) to advance to the championship match at the Mountain West Conference Men's Tennis Championship Friday at the Jerry Cline Tennis Center in Albuquerque, N.M.

The 38th-ranked Horned Frogs used four singles wins for the victory and will play the winner of sixth-seeded UNLV and second-seeded New Mexico on Saturday, April 25, at 2 p.m. MT. This is TCU's third trip to the championship in the past four years. The Horned Frogs won the tournament in 2008 and 2006.

The Aztecs took a 1-0 lead, picking up the doubles point in three matches. SDSU's Bartosz Golas and Time Schulz van Endert downed the 29th-rannked doubles duo in the nation, Emanuel Brighiu and Adrian Simon, 8-1, at the No. 2 position. Giovanni Vaglietti and Andre Feliz were victorious at No. 3 doubles, 8-6, to give the Aztecs the point.

The two teams exchanged points early in singles play. No. 72 Kriegler Brink used two sets to defeat No. 122 Golas, 6-4, 6-2, at the No. 3 spot. SDSU countered with a 6-2, 6-3 win from Feliz at No. 6.

The Horned Frogs were unstoppable the rest of the way, however, notching three straight singles wins. After dropping the first set 6-3, No. 84 Slah Mbarek won two straight sets, 6-0, 7-5, at the No. 1 to even it up 2-2. Zach Nichols then defeated Vaglietti at the No. 4 spot, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, and Christopher Price took care of Tim Schulz van Endert, 6-4, 6-3, to secure the TCU win.

Tennis Match Results - #1 TCU 4, #5 San Diego State 2
4/24/2009 at Albuquerque, N.M - Jerry Cline Tennis Center

Singles competition
1. #84 Slah Mbarek (TCU) def. #125 Achim Ceban (SDSU) 3-6, 6-0, 7-5
2. #114 Emanuel Brighiu (TCU) vs. Juan Gomez (SDSU) 3-6, 6-3, 2-3, unfinished
3. #72 Kriegler Brink (TCU) def. #122 Bartosz Golas (SDSU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Zach Nichols (TCU) def. Giovanni Vaglietti (SDSU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
5. Christopher Price (TCU) def. T. Schulz van Endert (SDSU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Andre Feliz (SDSU) def. Casey Powers (TCU) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Slah Mbarek/Kriegler Brink (TCU) def. Achim Ceban/Juan Gomez (SDSU) 8-6
2. Bartosz Golas/T. Schulz van Endert (SDSU) def. #29 Emanuel Brighiu/Adrian Simon (TCU) 8-1
3. Giovanni Vaglietti/Andre Feliz (SDSU) def. Christopher Price/Zach Nichols (TCU) 8-6

Match Notes:
#5 San Diego State 15-12, 2-3 MWC; National ranking #46
#1 TCU 12-10, 5-1 MWC; National ranking #38
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,6,1,4,5,2)
2009 Mountain West Conference Tennis Championships Semifinals