Nov. 13, 2011
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – The fall finale for the University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team saw four members of the Irish post a total of four victories over the weekend at the Lakewood Ranch Invitational at Lakewood Ranch Country Club.
Highlighting the event was sophomore Britney Sanders (Ontario, Calif.) and freshman Katherine White (Columbus, Ga.) advancing to the semifinals of the doubles draw with an 8-0 win over Oklahoma State’s Malika Rose and C.C. Sardinha. In their semfinal tilt, Sanders and White held a 7-6 advantage over Tennessee’s Brynn Boren and Sarah Toti, but the Volunteer duo ran off the next three games to close out the match, en route to eventually winning the doubles draw.
Sophomores JoHanna Manningham (Mishawaka, Ind.) and Julie Sabacinski (Plantation, Fla.) also entered the doubles bracket, dropping an 8-4 match to Tennessee’s Joanna Henderson and Caitlyn Williams.
In singles action, Sanders and Manningham each earned one main draw victory. For Sanders, a grueling straight-sets win greeted her in the opening match of her draw as she pulled out a 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3) victory over Temple’s Yana Mavrina. She would fall in her next match, however, to Memphis’ Mariya Slupska (6-3, 0-6, 6-1), who went on to claim the singles title.
Manningham, meanwhile, enjoyed an eventful tournament as she posted her first victory as a member of the Irish. She would battle through a close three-set match, but held on for a 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 decision over Temple’s Paola Calderon. In her next match, Manningham fell to Oklahoma State’s Meghan Blevins, 6-3, 6-2.
Both Sabacinski and White were unable to earn a victory in the main draw. Sabacinski dropped a 6-2, 6-1 contest to Stefanie Mikesz of Memphis, while White fell to Toti of Tennessee, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Sabacinski would not leave the weekend without a victory, however, as she earned a victory over Mississippi State’s Rosaline Dion in the consolation bracket as she was forced to retire after losing the first set to Sabacinski, 6-3. White dropped her consolation match to Petra Ferancova of Mississippi State in another three-set decision, 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6).
With the conclusion of the fall slate, the Irish now turn their attention to winter practice as they gear up for the spring dual season.
Lakewood Ranch Invitational - Lakewood Ranch Country Club
Singles Main Draw:Britney Sanders (ND) def. Yana Mavrina (TEM) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3)JoHanna Manningham (ND) def. Paola Calderon (TEM) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4Stefanie Mikesz (MEM) def. Julie Sabacinski (ND) 6-2, 6-1Sarah Toti (TENN) def. Katherine White (ND) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5Mariya Slupska (MEM) def. Britney Sanders (ND) 6-3, 0-6, 6-1Meghan Blevins (OKST) def. JoHanna Manningham (ND) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles Main Draw:Sanders/White (ND) def. Rose/Sardinha (OKST) 8-0Henderson/Williams (TENN) def. Manningham/Sabacinski (ND) 8-4Boren/Toti (TENN) def. Sanders/White (ND) 9-7
Singles Consolation Draw:Julie Sabacinski (ND) def. Rosaline Dion (MISS. ST) 6-3, ret.Petra Ferancova (MISS. ST) def. Katherine White (ND) 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6)Yana Mavrina (TEM) def. Julie Sabacinski (ND) 6-4, 6-2
–ND–