Feb. 6, 2011
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The 12th-ranked University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team earned its third win of the dual season, capturing a 6-1 victory over Wake Forest Sunday at the Indoor Tennis Center in Winston-Salem. Freshman Julie Sabacinski (Plantation, Fla.) earned her first career match-clinching victory at No. 6 singles.
Sabacinski earned the clincher with a victory over Brigita Bercyte, 6-3, 6-2. Overall on the dual season, Sabacinski now sits with a 3-2 record, all at No. 6 singles, and is 9-6 overall on the year.
The Irish got on the board first with the doubles point, winning each of the three matches. Sabacinski and Kristen Rafael (Grand Prairie, Texas) were first to finish, knocking off the Demon Deacon pairing of Anna Mydlowska and Bercyte at No. 3 doubles, 8-3.
The Irish pairing of Jennifer Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Chrissie McGaffigan (Davenport, Iowa) then clinched the doubles point, holding off Ryann Cutillo and Emilee Malvehy for an 8-6 victory. Kristy Frilling (Sidney, Ohio) and Shannon Mathews (Birmingham, Mich.) were the last Irish group to secure victory, defeating the 83rd-ranked tandem of Martina Pavelec and Kayla Duncan, 9-8 (7-5).
In singles action, Kellner, ranked 106th, earned the first point for the Irish, knocking off Mydlowska at No. 5 singles in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. The win improves Kellner to 3-2 at No. 5.
Mathews, ranked 104th in singles, made it a 3-0 Irish lead with a win over Duncan at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 6-2. Mathews improves to 5-0 on the dual season, all coming at the No. 2 court, and has not dropped a set in those matches.
With the match clinched at 4-0 after the Sabacinski victory, Frilling extended the lead with her fifth straight win at No. 1 singles. The Irish junior defeated 62nd-ranked Pavelec in a three-setter, 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11-9). Overall, Frilling now owns a 27-7 mark at the No. 1 position.
Rafael continued the Irish roll at No. 3 singles, taking down Malvehy in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, for her third win of the dual season.
Wake Forest claimed its lone point of the match with a victory at No. 4 singles, as Cutillo took down McGaffigan in three sets, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4.
Notre Dame now sits at 3-2 on the early season and prepares to play host to a trio of matches next weekend, facing Michigan on Thursday (Feb. 10) before taking on Vanderbilt on Saturday (Feb. 12) and Wisconsin on Sunday (Feb. 13).
Notre Dame vs. Wake ForestFeb 06, 2011 at Winston-Salem, N.C.(Indoor Tennis Center)
#12 Notre Dame 6, #54 Wake Forest 1
Singles competition1. #9 Kristy Frilling (ND) def. #62 Martina Pavelec (WF) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11-9)2. #104 Shannon Mathews (ND) def. Kayla Duncan (WF) 6-3, 6-23. #79 Kristen Rafael (ND) def. Emilee Malvehy (WF) 7-5, 6-44. Ryann Cutillo (WF) def. #78 Chrissie McGaffigan (ND) 6-2, 1-6, 6-45. #106 Jennifer Kellner (ND) def. Anna Mydlowska (WF) 6-1, 6-36. Julie Sabacinski (ND) def. Brigita Bercyte (WF) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition1. Kristy Frilling/Shannon Mathews (ND) def. #83 Martina Pavelec/Kayla Duncan (WF) 9-8 (7-5)2. Jennifer Kellner/Chrissie McGaffigan (ND) def. Ryann Cutillo/Emilee Malvehy (WF) 8-63. Kristen Rafael/Julie Sabacinski (ND) def. Anna Mydlowska/Brigita Bercyte (WF) 8-3
Match Notes:Notre Dame 3-2; National ranking #12Wake Forest 2-2; National ranking #54Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,2,6,1,3,4)
–ND–