Jan. 21, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team got its season off to a quick start, recording a 7-0 sweep over BIG EAST foe Cincinnati on Saturday at the Eck Tennis Pavilion. The win marks the eighth straight year that the Irish have opened the campaign with a win, dating back to the 2003-04 season.
The Irish jumped ahead of the Bearcats with a convincing effort in doubles action, taking each of the three matches. Sophomore Britney Sanders (Ontario, Calif.) and freshman Katherine White (Columbus, Ga.), the 25th-ranked doubles team in the ITA polls, grabbed the first victory of the match, defeating the Cincinnati pairing of Safiyya Ismail and Sierra Sullivan 8-1 at court No. 2. The victory marked the first doubles dual win in an Irish uniform for both players.
Fifth-ranked seniors Kristy Frilling (Sidney, Ohio) and Shannon Mathews (Birmingham, Mich.) clinched the point for Notre Dame, taking down Jasmine Lee and Ashleigh Witte at No. 1 doubles, 8-3. After the Bearcat pairing held serve to take an early 1-0 lead, the Irish co-captains reeled off the next seven games to take command of the set. Cincinnati clawed back within 7-3, but Frilling and Mathews claimed the next game to close out the set and secure the first point.
Sophomores Julie Sabacinski (Plantation, Fla.) and JoHanna Manningham (Mishawaka, Ind.) closed out action with an 8-4 victory at No. 3 doubles over Carly Wilson and Kristina Georgivia. For Manningham, the doubles victory represents both the first doubles win and doubles dual match win of her Irish career.
The Irish wasted little time building on the early 1-0 advantage as White and Sanders closed out their matches on No. 6 and No. 4 singles, respectively, while dropping only two games between them. After falling behind 1-0, White proceeded to reel of 12 consecutive games to close out Wilson 6-1, 6-0 for her first collegiate singles dual victory. Sanders also posted her first career singles dual victory with a 6-0, 6-1 decision over Wilson.
Needing one point to clinch the match, Mathews used a 6-3, 6-0 effort over Georgivia at No. 2 to secure the victory. The win marks the 77th of Mathews’ career and also the 37th at the No. 2 court.
With the contest decided, Frilling, Chrissie McGaffigan (Davenport, Iowa) and Jennifer Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.) closed out the sweep. Frilling defeated Lee, 6-0, 6-2 at No. 1 singles, while McGaffigan and Kellner, after not taking part in doubles play, took down Sullivan (6-0, 6-1) and Witte (6-2, 6-4) at No. 5 and 3 singles, respectively.
Notre Dame faces a quick turnaround as it takes part in two matches Sunday at the Eck Tennis Pavilion. The day begins with a matchup against Missouri at 11:00 a.m. (ET) before welcoming IPFW to close out the day at 5:00 p.m.
Live stats of both matches can be followed through the live stats link on the women’s tennis schedule. Be sure to check back with UND.com for a recap of the day’s action.
#20 Notre Dame 7, Cincinnati 0January 21, 2012Eck Tennis Pavilion
Singles:1. Kristy Frilling (ND) def. Jasmine Lee (UC) 6-0, 6-22. Shannon Mathews (ND) def. Kristina Georgivia (UC) 6-3, 6-03. Jennifer Kellner (ND) def. Ashleigh Witte (UC) 6-2, 6-34. Britney Sanders (ND) def. Safiyya Ismail (UC) 6-0, 6-15. Chrissie McGaffigan (ND) def. Sierra Sullivan (UC) 6-0, 6-16. Katherine White (ND) def. Carly Wilson (UC) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles:1. #5 Kristy Frilling / Shannon Mathews (ND) def. Jasmine Lee / Ashleigh Witte (UC) 8-32. #25 Britney Sanders / Katherine White (ND) def. Safiyya Ismail / Sierra Sullivan (UC) 8-13. JoHanna Manningham / Julie Sabacinski (ND) def. Carly Wilson / Kristina Georgivia (UC) 8-4
Match Notes:Cincinnati 0-1Notre Dame 1-0; National ranking #24Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,4,2,1,5,3)
–ND–