April 29, 2011
BIG EAST Quarterfinal – Video Recap
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The 23rd-ranked and top-seeded University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team advanced to the BIG EAST semifinals Friday at the Leeper Park Tennis Center with a convincing 4-0 victory over eighth-seeded Georgetown. The Irish did not drop a set in any of the matches that finished.
The team got off to a quick start in doubles, winning handily at both No. 3 and 2 doubles, respectively. The freshman duo of Jennifer Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Julie Sabacinski (Plantation, Fla.) concluded first, taking down Madeline Jaeger and Alex Sebia at No. 3, 8-1. The victory is the second straight for the pairing and is their seventh victory of the dual campaign.
Senior Kristen Rafael (Grand Prairie, Texas) and sophomore Chrissie McGaffigan (Davenport, Iowa) then closed out the doubles play with an 8-1 decision over Lauren Greco and Victoria Sekely at No. 2 doubles. The victory improves the Irish tandem to 8-7 in dual competition.
Leading 7-2 and up 40-15 in the deciding game, Notre Dame juniors Kristy Frilling (Sidney, Ohio) and Shannon Mathews (Birmingham, Mich.) did not finish their match at No. 1 doubles against Stephanie Wetmore and Tina Tehrani as the doubles point had already been clinched.
In singles action, Sabacinski wasted little time pushing the margin to 2-0, taking down Alexandra Landers at No. 6, 6-1, 6-1. The freshman has now won three consecutive matches and is 15-14 overall on the season.
McGaffigan then moved the contest to match point, defeating Jaeger at No. 5 singles, 6-1, 6-2. She has also won three consecutive dual matches and is now 7-4 since making the move to the No. 5 court.
Mathews, ranked 58th in the most recent ITA polls, clinched the victory for the Irish with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Greco at No. 2 singles. The win improves Mathews to 17-3 at No. 2 and 20-7 overall on the season.
The remaining three matches went unfinished with Frilling leading Wetmore 6-3, 3-4 at No. 1 singles, Kellner leading Sekely 6-0, 4-2 at No. 3 and Rafael leading Tehrani 6-2, 3-1 at No. 4.
The victory moves Notre Dame into the semifinal round for a noon (ET) showdown on Saturday with the winner of fourth seeded Louisville and fifth seeded Marquette. The Irish have not played Louisville this season, while they defeated Marquette on April 23, 6-1.
For an updated bracket and scores be sure to visit the BIG EAST Tournament Central page at www.bigeast.com and check back with und.com for a complete recap of the Irish as they look to secure a bid into the championship match of the 2011 BIG EAST Tournament.
Notre Dame vs. GeorgetownApril 29, 2011 at Leeper Park Tennis Center
Singles Competition:1. Kristy Frilling (ND) vs. Stephanie Wetmore (GTOWN) 6-3, 3-4, unfinished2. Shannon Mathews (ND) def. Lauren Greco (GTOWN) 6-1, 6-43. Jennifer Kellner (ND) vs. Victoria Sekely (GTOWN) 6-0, 4-2, unfinished4. Kristen Rafael (ND) vs. Tina Tehrani (GTOWN) 6-2, 3-1, unfinished5. Chrissie McGaffigan (ND) def. Madeline Jaeger (GTOWN) 6-1, 6-26. Julie Sabacinski (ND) def. Alexandra Landers (GTOWN) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles Competition:1. Kristy Frilling/Shannon Mathews (ND) vs. Stephanie Wetmore/Tina Tehrani (GTOWN) 7-2, unfinished2. Chrissie McGaffigan/Kristen Rafael (ND) def. Lauren Greco/Victoria Sekely (GTOWN) 8-13. Jennifer Kellner/Julie Sabacinski (ND) def. Madeline Jaeger/Alex Sebia (GTOWN) 8-1
Match Notes:Notre Dame: 14-9Georgetown: 12-9Order of Finish: Singles (6,5,2); Doubles (3,2)
–ND–