Feb. 4, 2013
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Playing its second match in as many days, the University of Notre Dame women’s tennis won the final four points to stun Iowa 4-3 Monday inside the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex.
Trailing 3-0, the Irish (5-1) rally began at the No. 6 singles court. Sophomore Molly O’Koniewski used the full three sets to defeat Annette Dohanics 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 to claim the first Notre Dame point of the match (3-1).
After dropping the opening set to Morven McCulloch at No. 3 singles, freshman Quinn Gleason bounced back with a 6-3 second set triumph. Trailing McCulloch 6-5 in the third, Gleason won the final two points of the match for a 7-6 (7-4) decision to keep the Irish alive.
Junior Jennifer Kellner tied the team competition with a three-set win of her own at the No. 2 singles court. Against Shelby Talcott. Kellner opened with a 6-3 first set win, only to be thwarted by Talcott 6-2 in the second. The Notre Dame co-captain took control of the third set early, ultimately taking the set 6-3 to even the dual score at 3-all.
Senior Chrissie McGaffigan surged ahead of Katie Zordani at the No. 4 court, opening with a 6-4 first set. Zordani evened the encounter with a 6-2 second set. With Gleason and Kellner’s matches already complete, McGaffigan withstood Zordani 6-4 in the final frame to complete the comeback.
The Irish got off to a fast start in the doubles portion of the match, as the team of Gleason and Britney Sanders earned an 8-3 win over Talcott and Zordani at the No. 2 doubles court. Gleason and Sanders extended their season dual record to 4-2 with the pair’s second straight victory.
Dohanics and Caitlin Hindmarsh pulled the Hawkeyes (1-1) back into the doubles series with an 8-3 triumph over O’Koniewski and Julie Sabacinski, squaring the session at 1-1. Iowa claimed the doubles point at the No. 1 court thanks to an 8-6 win by Ruth Seaborne and McCulloch over the Notre Dame duo of Kellner and McGaffigan.
The Hawkeyes took control early in the singles round, as Seaborne advanced past Sanders in straight sets at the No. 1 singles court. Iowa took a 2-0 team lead with Seaborn’s 6-2, 6-3 win. Iowa looked to put the contest away at No. 5 singles with its third win of the day.
Christina Harazin downed Sabacinski 6-1 in the first set, but the Irish junior countered with a 6-3 second frame to square the match. Harazin capped the victory with a 6-4 final set to give the Hawkeyes a commanding 3-0 advantage.
Notre Dame hosts Purdue Feb. 15 at 4 p.m. inside the Eck Tennis Pavilion.
No. 18 Notre Dame 4, Iowa 3
February 4, 2013
Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex
Iowa City, Iowa
Singles
1. Ruth Seaborne (Iowa) def. No. 58 Britney Sanders (ND), 6-2, 6-3
2. Jennifer Kellner (ND) def. Shelby Talcott (Iowa), 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
3. Quinn Gleason (ND) def. Morven McCulloch (Iowa), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4)
4. Chrissie McGaffigan (ND) def. Katie Zordani (Iowa), 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
5. Christina Harazin (Iowa) def. Julie Sabacinski (ND), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
6. Molly O’Koniewski (ND) def. Annette Dohanics (Iowa), 6-0, 4-6, 6-2
Doubles
1. McCulloch/Seaborne (Iowa) def. Kellner/McGaffigan (ND), 8-6
2. Gleason/Sanders (ND) def. Talcott/Zordani (Iowa), 8-3
3. Dohanics/Hindmarsh (Iowa) def. O’Koniewski/Sabacinski (ND), 8-3
Match Notes
Iowa 1-1
Notre Dame 5-1; National ranking #18
–ND–