Oct. 21, 2010
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team struggled at the opening day of competition at the 2010 ITA Midwest Regional on Thursday at the Varsity Tennis Center in Ann Arbor. JoHanna Manningham (Mishawaka, Ind.) and Julie Sabacinski (Plantation, Fla.) fell in singles qualifying action.
Manningham faced off against Alex Power of Cleveland State in the opening round of qualifying. After dropping the opening set 7-5, Manningham cruised through the second set, winning 6-0. Power, however, rebounded in the third to take the decisive set, 6-3. Later in the day, Manningham competed in a consolation bracket match, falling to Lauren Gruber of Wisconsin in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3.
Sabacinski enjoyed a first-round bye as the bracket’s No. 1 overall seed before meeting Kari Wig of Michigan in the round of 32. Sabacinski looked to be locked in after jumping out to a 5-2 lead in the opening set. However, Wig captured each of the next five games to claim the set, 7-5. Sabacinski was unable to recover in the second set, falling 6-3.
Doubles action gets underway on Friday with the Irish sending three teams into the draw. Sabacinski returns to the court with partner Chrissie McGaffigan (Davenport, Iowa), Kristen Rafael (Grand Prairie, Texas) teams up with Britney Sanders (Ontario, Calif.) and Kristy Frilling (Sidney, Ohio) joins up with Shannon Mathews (Birmingham, Mich.) as the draw’s No. 1 seeded team.
All three Irish tandems enjoy first round byes and get their tournament underway in the round of 32, tentatively scheduled to commence at 3:30 p.m. (ET).
Continue to check back with und.com daily for complete recaps of the Irish from the 2010 ITA Midwest Regional.
2010 ITA Women’s Midwest Regional Results – Day One:
Singles Qualifying Bracket:
Round of 64: Alex Power (Cleveland State) def. JoHanna Manningham (ND) – 7-5, 0-6, 6-3
Round of 32: Kari Wig (Mich.) def. Julie Sabacinski (ND) – 7-5, 6-3
Consolation Match: Lauren Gruber (Wisc.) def. JoHanna Manningham (ND) – 6-1, 6-3
–ND–