Feb. 28, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team never trailed in its match Thursday against Western Michigan, earning a 7-0 wire-to-wire win over the Broncos inside Eck Tennis Pavilion.
It was the second shutout win for the Irish at home this season. Notre Dame blanked Bowling Green 7-0 in the season opening match inside Eck Tennis Pavilion Jan. 18.
The No. 18 Irish (8-3) opened a 1-0 lead after taking both matches in the doubles portion. Jennifer Kellner and Chrissie McGaffigan breezed to an 8-2 victory over Nini Sjashvili and Caroline Aleck at the No. 1 court. The No. 38 team of Britney Sanders and Julie Sabacinski outlasted the Western Michigan duo of Jill Pastunink and Maggie Remynse 8-6 to clinch the doubles point.
Quinn Gleason and Katherine White were victorious by forfeit, with Western Michigan (6-6) only having traveled five active players.
Kellner kept up the momentum at the No. 2 singles court, picking up a straight set win over Remynse. The Irish junior captain won the opening frame 6-2 before taking the match with a 6-0 win in the second set.
After a 6-0 first set at the No. 3 court against Pastunink, Quinn Gleason was victorious in the second set 6-2 to clinch the team match for Notre Dame (4-0).
McGaffigan swept Aleck in two sets, taking the first by a 6-1 count. The senior captain did not look back in the second frame, winning by the same 6-1 margin to up the Notre Dame lead to 5-0.
Molly O’Koniewski opened her match at the No. 5 court against Kelsey King with a 6-2 first set victory. O’Koniewski shut King out in the second set 6-0 to extend the Irish advantage to 6-0.
Sanders and Sjashvili engaged in a spirited second set at the No. 1 court after Sanders claimed the opening frame 6-1. Trailing 4-3, the No. 42 player in the country rallied to down the Western Michigan product 6-1, 7-5 and complete the Notre Dame shutout.
Notre Dame continues its homestand this weekend, hosting No. 66 DePaul Saturday at 3:30 p.m. before welcoming No. 2 Duke Sunday at 11 a.m.
No. 18 Notre Dame 7, Western Michigan 0
Eck Tennis Pavilion
Notre Dame, Ind.
Singles
1. No. 42 Britney Sanders (ND) def. Nini Sjashvili (WMU) 6-1, 7-5
2. Jennifer Kellner (ND) def. Maggie Remynse (WMU) 6-2, 6-0
3. Quinn Gleason (ND) def. Jill Pastunink (WMU) 6-0, 6-2
4. Chrissie McGaffigan (ND) def. Caroline Aleck (WMU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Molly O’Koniewski (ND) def. Kelsey King (WMU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Katherine White (ND) won by forfeit
Doubles
1. Kellner/McGaffigan (ND) def. Sjashvili/Aleck (WMU) 8-2
2. No. 38 Julie Sabacinski/Sanders (ND) def. Pastunink/Remynse (WMU) 8-6
3. Gleason/White (ND) won by forfeit
Match Notes:
Western Michigan 6-6
Notre Dame 8-3; National ranking No. 18
Order of finish: Doubles: (3,1,2); Singles (6,2,3,4,5,1)
T-2:15 A-62
–ND–