May 22, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The second-ranked Irish duo of Kelcy Tefft and Kristy Frilling ended their season Friday with a 7-6,6-3 loss to Tennessee’s Natalie Pluskota and Caitlin Whorisky in the second round of the NCAA Doubles Championship.
The second-round match was a battle from the beginning as both teams battled throughout. Tefft and Frilling traded points with the Lady Vols, before forcing the first set into a tiebreaker. The Irish were able to keep the second set close, as well, before Pluskota and Whorisky took the final three games for the win.
As the second-seed in the doubles tournament, Tefft and Frilling earned All-America honors. The honor was the second for Tefft, who garnered the citation a year ago, and the first for Frilling.
Tefft and Frilling capped off one of the most impressive campaigns ever by an Irish duo by leading the Irish to their first ever NCAA semifinals. Tefft and Frilling end the season with a 37-4 overall record and were just the third Irish pair to ever earn a No. 1 ranking in the national poll. Tefft and Frilling opened the 2009 season in the top spot and consistently ranked in the top three all year. They won the ITA Midwest Regional Doubles title and were runners-up at the ITA National Indoor Doubles Championship.
For their efforts during the season, Tefft was named the ITA Senior Player of the Year and the BIG EAST Player of the Year, while Frilling earned ITA National Player to Watch and BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honors.
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