:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46348152/usa-today-8501520.0.jpg)
Sporting one of the best fanbases in the country, TCU Men's Tennis has ridden some late season momentum to a berth in the NCAA Tennis Final Four. The Frogs, who reached 25 wins for the fourth time in program history, will take on Big 12 foe and #1 ranked Oklahoma Monday for a chance to play for a National Championship.
Led by Coach David Roditi, a TCU Tennis alum who took over the lead position for the Frogs in 2010, the team headed in to postseason play as the #6 team in the country, and held a five seed in the tourney. TCU beat the 12th seeded Demon Deacons to set up the matchup with the Tar Heels, avenging a loss to Wake Forest that occurred just before spring break. The defeat seemed to ignite the Frogs, propelling them in to the post season as one of the hottest squads in the country.
The 4-1 match victory over UNC was a senior-led affair, as five seniors scored the four points - three in singles and two in doubles play. The man of the match was TCU senior Nick Chappell, who started the day by defeating Tar Heel's ace Brayden Schnur, who is the #11 ranked player in the country. Chappell would then lead the Frogs to a doubles victory with partner Facundo Lugones, a partnership that had only recently been formed, but has produced positive results.
The other match results, as found on GoFrogs.com:
#6 TCU 4, #13 North Carolina 1
Singles competition
1. #49 Nick Chappell (TCU) def. #11 Brayden Schnur (UNC) 6-4, 6-2
2. #28 Ronnie Schneider (UNC) def. #59 Guillermo Nuñez (TCU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
3. #39 Cameron Norrie (TCU) vs. Brett Clark (UNC) 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 1-0, unfinished
4. Facundo Lugones (TCU) def. Jack Murray (UNC) 6-3, 6-1
5. Arnau Dachs (TCU) def. Robert Kelly (UNC) 6-4, 7-5
6. Will Stein (TCU) vs. Esben Hess-Olesen (UNC) 3-6, 6-5, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #30 Cameron Norrie/Trevor Johnson (TCU) def. Esben Hess-Olesen/Brayden Schnur (UNC) 8-6
2. Nick Chappell/Facundo Lugones (TCU) def. Brett Clark/Robert Kelly (UNC) 8-7 (8-6)
3. Jack Murray/Ronnie Schneider (UNC) def. Guillermo Nuñez/Hudson Blake (TCU) 8-7 (7-5)
Next up for the Frogs will be the match with the Sooners, who hold the #1 seed, held Monday at 1pm in Waco. The Frogs dropped their previous match against OU in Norman 4-1, but have been playing their best tennis as of late, and hope to reverse their fortunes this time around. Another carrot dangling for TCU - on the other side of the bracket is a familiar foe and the tourney's host team - the #2 Bears. If BU is able to get by the Cavaliers of UVA, it will be an all Big 12 final. Good luck to TCU Tennis and beat the Sooners!