March 21, 2012
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The 17th-ranked University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team lost a 5-2 decision against 20th-ranked Michigan Wednesday at the Varsity Tennis Center. The Irish won the doubles point but lost five of six singles contests to lose the match.
The Irish claimed the early 1-0 advantage in a match for the eighth consecutive time, coming from behind to take down the Wolverines in doubles. Michigan won the first contest as #1 Kristy Frilling (Sidney, Ohio) and Shannon Mathews (Birmingham, Mich.) dropped an 8-4 decision to #7 Emina Bektas and Brooke Bolender at the No. 1 court.
Notre Dame evened the count shortly after, when the Irish team of Jennifer Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Chrissie McGaffigan (Davenport, Iowa) took down the Wolverines pairing of Sarah Lee and Sam Critser, 8-6, at No. 3 doubles. It is the fourth straight win for the Irish duo and improves them to 11-4 at the third court.
Britney Sanders (Ontario, Calif.) and Julie Sabacinski (Plantation, Fla.) again teamed at No. 2 doubles, taking on Michigan’s team of Mimi Nguyen and Michelle Sulahian. The Irish duo earned their eighth win of the dual season and clinched the doubles point with an 8-6 victory.
Singles action, however, would go the way of Michigan as the Wolverines claimed five of the six contests to pull away for the victory. The lone Irish win came at No. 4 singles where Sanders took down #124 Nguyen, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4). It is the Irish sophomores third straight victory and improves her to 14-3 overall on the dual season.
Michigan closed out the match with four consecutive straight-sets victories. Sulahian got the Wolverines on the board with her victory over Sabacinski at No. 6, 6-4, 6-0. Shortly after, McGaffigan fell to #106 Critser at No. 5 singles, 6-4, 6-3, to even the match at 2-2. The Wolverines then posted wins at No. 2 and 3 singles as #84 Frilling lost to #64 Bolender (7-6 (7-4), 6-2) before Kellner dropped to Lee (7-6 (7-2), 6-4), respectively.
The final match of the day saw 49th-ranked Mathews battle 10th-ranked Bektas at No. 1 singles. After dropping the opening set, 6-1, Mathews fought back to secure the second set 6-4. Mathews could not claim the decisive third set, however, eventually falling to Bektas, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.
Notre Dame now returns home for a three-match homestand, which gets underway Sunday as the team does battle with BIG EAST foe Marquette. First serve is scheduled for noon (ET).
Michigan vs. Notre DameMar 21, 2012 at Ann Arbor, Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)#20 Michigan 5, #17 Notre Dame 2
Singles Competition1. #10 Emina Bektas (UM) def. #49 Shannon Matthews (ND), 6-1, 4-6, 6-42. #64 Brooke Bolender (UM) def. #84 Kristy Frilling (ND), 7-6 (4). 6-23. Sarah Lee (UM) def. Jennifer Kellner (ND), 7-6 (2), 6-44. Britney Sanders (ND) def. #124 Mimi Nguyen (UM), 6-2, 7-6 (4)5. #106 Sam Critser (UM) def. Chrissie McGaffigan (ND), 6-4, 6-36. Michelle Sulahian (UM) def. Julie Sabacinski (ND), 6-4, 6-0
Doubles Competition1. #7 Brooke Bolender/Emina Bektas (UM) def. #1 Kristy Frilling/Shannon Matthews (ND), 8-42. Julie Sabacinski/Britney Sanders (ND) def. Mimi Nguyen/Michelle Sulahian (UM), 8-63. Jennifer Kellner/Chrissie McGaffigan (ND) def. Sarah Lee/Sam Critser (UM), 8-6
Match NotesMichigan 8-5; National ranking #20Notre Dame 12-5; National ranking #17Order of Finish: Singles (6,4,5,2,3,1); Doubles (1,3,2)
–ND–