March 24, 2011
ATLANTA, Ga. – The 19th-ranked University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team dropped a 5-2 decision to 21st-ranked Georgia Tech on Thursday at the Bill Moore Tennis Center. Notre Dame got two singles points from freshmen Jennifer Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Julie Sabacinski (Plantation, Fla.)
Kellner, ranked 107th in singles, faced off against Sasha Krupina at No. 4 singles. After dropping the first set, 4-6, the freshman battled back to capture the final two for a three-set victory, 4-6, 7-6, 1-0 (10-8). Kellner now sits at 13-3 on the dual season and runs her record to a perfect 6-0 at No. 4 singles since making the move to that court.
At No. 6 singles, Sabacinski tussled with Lynn Blau. After falling behind early in the first set, Sabacinski battled back to claim the first set, 7-6, before rolling through the second set, 6-3, for the straight-set victory. The win snaps a brief two-game losing streak and improves her dual record to 6-7.
The remaining four matches did not go the way of the Irish, however, as they were able to win only one set between the four. For the first time on the season, third-ranked Kristy Frilling (Sidney, Ohio) failed to win her singles match, dropping to #49 Jillian O’Neill at the No. 1 spot, 6-0, 6-3. She now possesses a 13-1 record on the dual season.
At No. 2 singles, Shannon Mathews (Birmingham, Mich.) lost only her second dual match of the year at that position, falling to #82 Viet Ha Ngo in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). The remaining two matches saw Kristen Rafael (Grand Prairie, Texas) fall to #83 Caroline Lilley, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, at No. 3 singles and Chrissie McGaffigan (Davenport, Iowa) lose in three sets to Elizabeth Kilborn, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, at No. 5 singles.
In doubles action, Georgia Tech claimed the first of three matches being contested as Blau and Lilley defeated Kellner and Sabacinski at No. 3, 8-3. Frilling and Mathews, ranked 33rd in doubles, then countered and evened it at one match apiece after holding off Ha Ngo and O’Neill at No. 1 doubles, 8-6. The win for Frilling and Mathews marks their 10th in a row and improves their dual record to 13-3.
With the doubles point up for grabs, McGaffigan and Rafael battled their way to a tiebreaker with Krupina and Kilborn at No. 2, but fell just short, 9-8 (7-4), to give Georgia Tech the point.
Notre Dame falls to 9-8 with the loss and is now 1-5 all-time against the Yellow Jackets.
The Irish next return to action on Friday and Saturday (April 1-2) when they play host to Long Beach State and Texas A&M at the Eck Tennis Pavilion.
#21 Georgia Tech 5, #19 Notre Dame 2March 24, 2011 at Atlanta, Ga.
Singles competition1. #49 Jillian O'Neill (GT) def. #3 Kristy Frilling (ND) 6-0, 6-32. #82 Viet Ha Ngo (GT) def. #38 Shannon Matthews (ND) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)3. #83 Caroline Lilley (GT) def. Kristen Rafael (ND) 7-6 (7-4), 6-24. #107 Jennifer Kellner (ND) def. Sasha Krupina (GT) 4-6, 7-6, 10-85. Elizabeth Kilborn (GT) def. Chrissie McGaffigan (ND) 6-1, 4-6, 6-26. Julie Sabacinski (ND) def. Lynn Blau (GT) 7-6, 6-3
Doubles competition1. #33 Kristy Frilling/Shannon Matthews (ND) def. Viet Ha Ngo/Jillian O'Neill (GT) 8-62. Sasha Krupina/Elizabeth Kilborn (GT) def. Chrissie McGaffigan/Kristen Rafael (ND) 9-8 (7-4)3. Lynn Blau/Caroline Lilley (GT) def. Jennifer Kellner/Julie Sabacinski (ND) 8-3
Match NotesNotre Dame 9-8; National ranking #19Georgia Tech 8-5; National ranking #21Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,6,3,2,5,4)