Jan. 8, 2009
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Irish doubles team of senior Kelcy Tefft and freshman Kristy Frilling will start the spring dual-match season ranked first in the country, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced Wednesday.
Tefft ended the 2007-08 season ranked third in the nation with doubles partner and graduated senior Brook Buck after advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Doubles Championship. During the fall ’08 semester, Tefft and Frilling recorded a 10-1 doubles record and advanced to the finals of the ITA National Indoor Championships.
Tefft is also ranked third nationally with junior doubles partner Kali Krisik. The duo teamed up for a 6-1 record in the fall, defeating six ranked opponents. Juniors Cosmina Ciobanu and Colleen Rielley are ranked 50th.
The Irish women are ranked 17th in the nation with four players in the top-65 singles rankings.
Frilling leads the Irish, ranked 39th after finishing the fall with an 8-1 record and knocking off five ranked players. Tefft is 45th, just ahead of Krisik at 46th. Sophomore Kristen Rafael is ranked 62nd with a 5-2 record in fall tournaments.
Regionally, the Irish placed seven singles players in the top-20. Frilling, Tefft and Krisik took the four, five and six spots, followed by Rafael in ninth, Ciobanu in 15th, Rielley in 18th and freshman Shannon Mathews at No. 20.
Tefft and Frilling were the top-ranked doubles team in the Midwest region, with Ciobanu and Reilley ranked seventh and Mathews and Krisik ninth.
The Irish finished the 2007-08 season with a 22-9 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Tefft represented Notre Dame in the singles tournament, advancing to the second round, as well.
Northwestern topped the team rankings, followed by California and UCLA. Baylor and Stanford round out the top five. Northwestern’s Maria Mosolova was the top-ranked singles player.
The Irish return to the courts on Jan. 25 at Ohio State. Notre Dame opens play at home against Michigan on Feb. 6.