Oct. 1, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team posted an 11-1 record in singles and 3-0 mark in doubles during opening-day action in the Eck Tennis Classic at the Courtney Tennis Center on Friday. Eight of the team’s singles victories came in straight sets.
Three Irish players advanced into the semifinals of the blue singles draw after day one. Freshman Britney Sanders (Ontario, Canada) advanced with a pair of straight-sets victories, knocking off Paulina Los of Kansas in the opening round, 6-0, 6-0, before eliminating Zara Harutyunan of Akron in the quarterfinals, 6-1, 6-2. She will square off against teammate Chrissie McGaffigan (Davenport, Iowa), who advanced with wins over Stephanie Danesis of Miami (OH) (6-1, 6-2) and Jo-Anne Karaitiana of Tulsa (6-7, 6-3, 1-0).
Senior Kristen Rafael (Grand Prairie, Texas) sits in the bottom half of the semifinal draw after two convincing victories over Kara Cecil of Ohio State (6-0, 6-0) and Angelika Jogasuria of Akron (6-1, 6-2).
A pair of freshmen advanced into the semifinals of the gold singles draw, with Julie Sabacinski (Plantation, Fla.) notching wins over Claire McNulty of Dayton (6-0, 6-2) and Noelle Malley of Ohio State (6-4, 6-7, 1-0) while Jennifer Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.) advanced with victories over Tiffany Dittmer of Ohio State (6-0, 6-0) and Riekie Honiball of Miami (OH) (6-0, 6-1).
Freshman JoHanna Manningham (Mishawaka, Ind.) advanced to the quarterfinals of the green singles draw with a win over Jessica Parr of Miami (OH) (6-7, 6-4, 1-0) before being knocked off by Natasha Kuvakina of Akron (6-3, 6-3).
In doubles action, Kellner and Sanders advanced in the blue draw with an 8-5 win over Danesis and Honiball of Miami (OH). McGaffigan and Sabacinski also advanced in the blue draw, notching a win over Julie Kirkland and Maureen Stevens of Dayton, 8-5.
The team of Manningham and Rafael moved on in the gold doubles draw with a victory over Sydnee Bridger and Cara Wild of Miami (OH).
Action resumes tomorrow at 10 a.m. (ET) with singles action kicking off the day’s matches. Two rounds of doubles action will follow the one round of singles play. Admission to tomorrow’s matches is free of charge.
Be sure to check back with und.com for a complete recap of the Irish on day two at the Eck Tennis Classic.
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