March 16, 2018
By Michael Scholl
NOTRE DAME, Indiana — The University of Notre Dame tennis team entered ACC play for the duration of the season and kicked things off with a 5-2 victory over No. 36 Virginia Tech.
Allison Miller, Zoe Spence, Rachel Chong and Ally Bojczuk were singles winners for the Irish (10-3, 2-1 ACC), while Brooke Broda & Miller won at doubles over the Hokies (10-3, 1-3 ACC) along with Chong & Bess Waldram.
How It Happened
Doubles
The doubled point was decided quickly, as Rachel Chong and Bess Waldram picked-up a 6-2 victory on court three before Brooke Broda & Allison Miller won by an identical score on court one just a few moments later. The Irish duo of Cameron Corse and Zoe Spence held a 5-3 lead on court two in a match that was abandoned once the doubles point was decided.
Singles
The Irish lead quickly grew to 3-0 as Spence (6-1, 6-4) and Chong (6-1, 6-1) earned nearly simultaneous victories on courts four and five, respectively.
The Hokies came fighting back, winning the next two matches to cut the Irish lead to 3-2. Natalie Novotna won 6-4, 6-3 over Broda on court one, while Elena Cerezo-Codina defeated Corse on court three, 7-5, 6-4.
All eyes turned to court six where Ally Bojczuk and VT’s Nina Sorkin were locked in a battle that saw Bojczuk win in straight sets, both by tiebreak with a 7-6 margin. That victory clinched the match for Notre Dame before Caroline Daxhelet and Miller went to three sets on court two, with Miller prevailing 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Match Notes
- Chong & Waldram improved to 6-1 when paired together on court three for doubles action. Broda & Miller are 6-7 at the top spot.
- Bojczuk is now 8-0 at six singles on the dual season, has won 12 straight singles matches and is 16-1 in singles on the 2017-18 season.
- Spence moved to 8- 3 in singles on the dual season.
- Miller is 8-2 playing at two singles.
- Chong is 3-2 playing singles on court five.
- Notre Dame improved to 12-0 all-time against Virginia Tech.
Scoreboard
Notre Dame 5, #36 Virginia Tech 2
Mar 16, 2018 at Notre Dame, IN (Eck Tennis Pavilion)
Singles
1. Natalie Novotna (VT) def. Brooke Broda (ND) 6-4, 6-3
2. Allison Miller (ND) def. Caroline Daxhelet (VT) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
3. Elena Cerezo-Codina (VT) def. Cameron Corse (ND) 7-5, 6-4
4. Zoe Spence (ND) def. Nika Kozar (VT) 6-1, 6-4
5. Rachel Chong (ND) def. Katherine Butler (VT) 6-1, 6-1
6. Ally Bojczuk (ND) def. Nina Sorkin (VT) 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (10-8)
Doubles
1. Brooke Broda/Allison Miller (ND) def. Elena Cerezo-Codina/Caroline Daxhelet (VT) 6-2
2. Cameron Corse/Zoe Spence (ND) vs. Katherine Butler/Natalie Novotna (VT) 5-3, unfinished
3. Rachel Chong/Bess Waldram (ND) def. Nika Kozar/Nina Sorkin (VT) 6-2
Order Of Finish
Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,5,1,3,6,2)
Up Next
The Irish return to play on Sunday, March 18, when Virginia visits the Eck Tennis Pavilion for an 11 a.m. ET match. Watch the action on all courts, live, and follow scoring updates at UND.com.
— ND —
Michael Scholl has been a member of the Fighting Irish Media communications staff at his alma mater since August 2016. He serves as the secondary contact for the Irish football and hockey teams while coordinating communications efforts for the women’s tennis program. Scholl has previously worked in communications at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Providence College, Vanderbilt University and the University of Cincinnati. The South Bend, Indiana, native earned a degree in political science from the College of Arts and Letters in 2009.