FORT WORTH -- A close match against No. 28 TCU ended in the first conference loss of the season for the No. 57 BYU women’s tennis team. With the loss, the squad falls to 11-7 on the season and 4-1 in conference play.

“We fought as hard as we could,” BYU coach Craig Manning said. “It’s tough to beat a team ranked thirty spots ahead of you at their home courts.”

The Cougars earned the doubles point after three close matches. McCall Jones and Kristina Doerr notched a huge win over the No. 24 pair in the country on court one. BYU recorded an 8-6 win at the No. 2 position to secure the point. On court three, Liza Ezhova and Romina Nedakovic dropped a close match, also 8-6.

“We played great doubles at one and two,” Manning said.

TCU evened the score with a win by No. 86 Macall Harkins over BYU’s Jones. The Horned Frogs then pulled ahead with straight-set victories on courts three and six. Price kept the Cougars’ hopes alive with a win over TCU’s Gaby Mastromarino at the No. 4 position.

The final points came down to three-set matches on courts two and five. The Cougars needed to win at both positions to earn the victory. TCU was able to overpower BYU at the No. 2 position to clinch the match, but Ezhova kept things close, recording a win and a point for the Cougars.

“As a whole, everybody gave their best effort,” Manning said. “Today, it wasn’t enough, but hopefully we’ll play them again in the conference championship. I’d love the chance to play them again.”

The team will resume conference play next week, hosting in-state rival Utah in Provo.

Match Results
#28 TCU- 4 
#57 BYU- 3
Doubles 
1. McCall Jones/Kristina Doerr (BYU) def. #24 Macall Harkins/Anna Sydorska (TCU) 8-6
2. Megan Price/Elle Carney (BYU) def. Kayla Duncan/Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU) 8-6
3. Maria Babanova/Gaby Mastromarino (TCU) def. Romina Nedakovic/Elizaveta Ezhova (BYU) 8-6
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles 
1. #86 Macall Harkins (TCU) def. #96 McCall Jones (BYU) 6-0, 6-4
2. Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU) def. Kristina Doerr (BYU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. Kayla Duncan (TCU) def. Chie Hayasaka (BYU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Megan Price (BYU) def. Gaby Mastromarino (TCU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Elizaveta Ezhova (BYU) def. Idunn Hertzberg (TCU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
6. Anna Sydorska (TCU) def. Elle Carney (BYU) 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 3, 6, 4, 2, 5

PROVO -- Conference play continues for the No. 53 BYU women’s tennis team this weekend as it travels to Texas to face New Mexico and No. 32 TCU. The Cougars are currently undefeated against Mountain West Conference opponents after sweeping Colorado State, Wyoming and Air Force last week.

“Our performance level has been really good,” BYU coach Craig Manning said. “We’re looking forward to seeing how we do against some tough opponents.”

BYU will play New Mexico Friday. The Lobos are 5-11 and have yet to win a conference match in two attempts. Their last match ended in a 4-3 loss to No. 29 San Diego State. The Cougars lost to New Mexico by the same score last season.

Saturday will bring a tough TCU team. The 7-9 Horned Frogs split conference matches last week, beating SDSU and losing to No. 71 UNLV. They handed the Cougars a 6-1 loss when the two teams met last season.

“We’re trying to focus on what we need to do,” Manning said. “We want to keep our energy on what we can control and focus on the responsibility on our side of the court.”

A traditionally strong conference presence, TCU’s ranked players come in at No. 11 and No. 84 in the nation. Macall Harkins and Anna Sydorska represent the Horned Frogs in doubles, notching the No. 23 spot.

Friday’s match against New Mexico begins at 10 a.m. and play against TCU starts at 2 p.m. Saturday.