April 23, 2017
By Joanne Norell
CLEMSON, S.C. — The 33rd-ranked University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team lost its fifth straight match, closing out the regular season in a 6-1 loss to No. 47 Clemson on Sunday at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center.
How It Happened
Clemson (12-11, 7-7 ACC) got off to a quick start with wins at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles to take the first point. Fernanda Navarro and Daniela Ruiz first defeated senior Jane Fennelly and freshman Zoe Spence 6-2 on Court 3 before 32nd-ranked Ayan Broomfield and Marie Leduc upended seniors Mary Closs and Monica Robinson 6-3 on Court 1 to give the Tigers the early lead.
Playing at Clemson’s four-court indoor facility, the Tigers snared first-set wins at the first four positions to start singles. The Tigers won the first two, with Navarro defeating junior Allison Miller 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3 and Sydney Riley downing Spence 7-5, 6-4 at No. 4.
At the first two spots, both Robinson and junior Brooke Broda, respectively, forced third sets, but neither to could hold on to the momentum. Robinson fell to Leduc 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 for Clemson’s clinching point, while Broda fell to No. 88 Broomfield 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to make it 5-0.
At No. 5, Constanza Gorches defeated Closs 6-3, 6-3. The Irish got their lone point from sophomore Rachel Chong, who defeated Daniela Ruiz 6-3, 7-6(2) at No. 6.
Up Next
The Irish (16-8, 7-7 ACC) will next head to the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship, slated for April 26-30 at the Rome Tennis Center in Rome, Georgia. The Irish earned a No. 10 seed and will face No. 15 Pittsburgh in the first round at 1 p.m. ET Wednesday.
Scoreboard
No. 47 Clemson 6, No. 33 Notre Dame 1
April 23, 2017
Hoke Sloan Tennis Center
Clemson, S.C.
Singles
1. Marie Leduc (CU) def. No. 80 Monica Robinson (ND) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
2. No. 88 Ayan Broomfield (CU) def. Brooke Broda (ND) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
3. Fernanda Navarro (CU) def. Allison Miller (ND) 6-3, 6-4
4. Sydney Riley (CU) def. Zoe Spence (ND) 7-5, 6-4
5. Constanza Gorches (CU) def. Mary Closs (ND) 6-3, 6-3
6. Rachel Chong (ND) def. Daniela Ruiz (CU) 6-3, 7-6(2)
Doubles
1. No. 32 Ayan Broomfield / Marie Leduc (CU) def. Mary Closs / Monica Robinson (ND) 6-3
2. Brooke Broda / Allison Miller (ND) vs. Constanza Gorches / Sydney Riley (CU) 4-3, unfinished
3. Fernanda Navarro / Daniela Ruiz (CU) def. Jane Fennelly / Zoe Spence (ND) 6-2
— ND —
Joanne Norell, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2014 and coordinates communications efforts for the Notre Dame women’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s tennis and fencing programs. Norell is a 2011 graduate of Purdue University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, and earned her master’s degree in sports industry management from Georgetown University in 2013.