April 7, 2012
WACO, Texas – The 18th-ranked University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team lost its second-straight match, falling 6-1 to 12th-ranked Baylor (19-5) Saturday at the Hurd Tennis Center. The Irish now sit at 14-7 on the season and carry a 3-6 record against top-25 opposition.
After winning the doubles point in 11-straight matches, the Irish finally found themselves trailing 1-0 after getting swept in doubles action by the Bears. Fifth-ranked Kristy Frilling (Sidney, Ohio) and Shannon Mathews (Birmingham, Mich.) finished first, falling 8-5 to 22nd-ranked Nina Secerbegovic and Ema Burgic at No. 1.
The point went final as the Irish team of Julie Sabacinski (Plantation, Fla.) and Britney Sanders (Ontario, Calif.) ranked 67th, saw their four-match winning streak come to an end to Diana Nakic and Sona Novakova at the No. 2 court, 8-5. At the No. 3 court, Jennifer Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Chrissie McGaffigan (Davenport, Iowa) lost an 8-7 (7-2) decision to Jordaan Sanford and Nicole Kosakowski to bring their seven-match winning streak to an end.
In singles action, Kellner secured the lone point of the match for Notre Dame in her first match of the season at the No. 4 court. The Irish sophomore won the first set (6-1) over Jordaan Sanford and was leading 3-2 in the second set before her opposition was forced to retire. The victory improves Keller to 15-5 on the dual season.
The remaining five matches did not go the way of the Irish, however, as Baylor claimed each of them with three ending in straight sets. The lone three-set matches saw #95 Frilling drop a tough contest to #46 Novakova (2-6, 6-2, 6-3) at No. 2 and Sanders lose to Burgic (6-2, 0-6, 6-4) at No. 3.
Notre Dame looks to salvage a split of its two-game Texas road trip Monday when the team takes on No. 21 Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (ET).
Notre Dame vs BaylorApr 07, 2012 at Waco, Texas (Hurd Tennis Center)#12 Baylor 6, #18 Notre Dame 1
Singles Competition:1. #24 Nina Secerbegovic (BU) def. #54 Shannon Mathews (UND) 6-3, 7-6 (9-7)2. #46 Sona Novakova (BU) def. #95 Kristy Frilling (UND) 2-6, 6-2, 6-33. Ema Burgic (BU) def. Britney Sanders (UND) 6-2, 0-6, 6-44. Jennifer Kellner (UND) def. Jordaan Sanford (BU) 6-1, 3-2, retired5. Megan Horter (BU) def. Chrissie McGaffigan (UND) 6-2, 6-36. Nicole Kosakowski (BU) def. Katherine White (UND) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles Competition:1. #22 Nina Secerbegovic/Ema Burgic (BU) def. #5 Kristy Frilling/Shannon Mathews (UND) 8-52. Diana Nakic/Sona Novakova (BU) def. #67 Julie Sabacinski/Britney Sanders (UND) 8-53. Jordaan Sanford/Nicole Kosakowski (BU) def. Jennifer Kellner/Chrissie McGaffigan (UND) 8-7 (7-2)
Match Notes:Notre Dame 14-7; National ranking #18Baylor 19-5; National ranking #12Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,6,5,2,3,1)
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