Air Force Academy
TCU
74th-ranked TCU Downs Air Force 5-2
3/31/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 31, 2011
The Air Force men's tennis team won two singles matches and one doubles match against 74th-ranked TCU, but ended up falling 5-2 to the Horned Frogs Thursday at the Academy. TCU improved to 7-11 overall and 2-0 in the Mountain West Conference, while the Falcons fell to 9-8 and 0-2 in league play.
The Horned Frogs captured the doubles point with wins at the Nos. 1 and 3 spots. Sophomore Lace Wilhelm and freshman Steven Young captured the No. 2 match for Air Force, defeating Soren Goritzka and Daniel Sanchez, 8-6. The three doubles matches were played outdoors, then high winds forced the six singles matches indoors.
In singles, Christopher Price (No. 3), Emanuel Brighiu (No. 1) and Zach Nichols (No. 2) each won in straight sets for TCU and clinched the match for the Horned Frogs. Air Force won the next two matches off the court, however, as senior Taylor Soster rallied to defeat Goritzka, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 4 for his second career MWC singles win and freshman Alex Grubbs handled Sanchez, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 5 for his first career league victory. Soster's win gave Air Force its first point over TCU since 2006.
"This was a much improved effort from our team compared to our match on Tuesday (a 6-1 loss to Denver)," said head coach Dan Oosterhous. "We competed better at every spot and getting a few wins on the board against the defending conference champs is a step in the right direction. Taylor (Soster) fought off a very strong opponent and Alex (Grubbs) played some of his best tennis this year. Each individual win in conference play is special and our guys are building the confidence they need to get a team win."
The Falcons continue Mountain West Conference action on Sunday, April 3 against San Diego State at the Academy. The match is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
#74 TCU 5, Air Force 2
March 31, 2011
USAFA, Colo.
Singles
1. #78 Emanuel Brighiu (TCU) def. Lance Wilhelm, 6-3, 7-6(2)
2. Zach Nichols (TCU) def. Lucas Marin-Salcedo, 6-2, 7-5
3. Christopher Price (TCU) def. Andy Jackson, 6-1, 6-2
4. Taylor Soster (AF) def. Soren Goritzka, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Alex Grubbs (AF) def. Daniel Sanchez, 6-2, 6-4
6. Paul Chappell (TCU) def. Ali Rizvi, 6-2, 6-1
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
Doubles
1. #34 Brighiu / Price (TCU) def. Soster / Marin-Salcedo, 8-4
2. Wilhelm / Young (AF) def. Gorizka / Sanchez, 8-6
3. Chappell / Cameron Nash (TCU) def. Jackson / Grubbs, 8-6
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
Players Mentioned
