March 15, 2007
SAN DIEGO – The No. 2 Notre Dame women’s tennis team held off a spirited effort from No. 23 Duke Thursday afternoon, 4-3, in college tennis action from the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, Calif. The Irish improves to 14-1 overall, while the Blue Devils fall to 6-3 on the season.
#36 Daniela Bercek and Melissa Mang started things off for the Blue Devils with an 8-3 win over #5 Christian and Catrina Thompson at the No. 1 spot, but the Fighting Irish would then post a win at the No. 3 position, as #52 freshman Cosmina Ciobanu and freshman Kali Krisik defeated senior Tory Zawacki and freshman Amanda Granson, 8-4.
Notre Dame then took the doubles point, courtesy of #24 junior Brook Buck and sophomore Kelcy Tefft’s 8-5 victory over the Duke duo of Elizabeth Plotkin and Jessi Robinson at No. 2.
Singles action saw a back-and-forth battle, as both teams came to play. Buck notched a two-set victory over senior Clelia Deltour at No. 6 (6-1, 6-0) to put the Irish ahead, 2-0, but #99 Elizabeth Plotkin countered with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Colleen Rielley at No. 3 to get the Blue Devils on the board.
#27 Catrina Thompson then defeated Bercek at the No. 1 slot, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, to increase Notre Dame’s lead to 3-1, before Duke responded with wins at No. 2 and No. 4, as #108 Mang defeated #89 Christian Thompson (1-6, 6-4, 7-5) and Amanda Granson defeated Tefft (6-1, 1-6, 6-4).
With the score knotted at three apiece, #31 Ciobanu and Zawacki battled back and forth at the No. 5 spot, with Ciobanu eventually coming away with a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 win to put the final score at 4-3 in favor of the Irish.
Notre Dame returns to action tomorrow afternoon against Tennessee. First-serve is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. (PST).
#2 NOTRE DAME 4, #23 DUKE 3
Singles
1. #27 Catrina Thompson (ND) def. Daniela Bercek (D); 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
2. #108 Melissa Mang (D) def. #89 Christian Thompson (ND); 1-6, 6-4, 7-5
3. #99 Elizabeth Plotkin (D) def. Colleen Rielley (ND); 6-4, 6-3
4. Amanda Granson (D) def. Kelcy Tefft (ND); 6-1, 1-6, 6-4
*5. #31 Cosmina Ciobanu (ND) def. Tory Zawacki (D); 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
6. Brook Buck (ND) def. Clelia Deltour (D); 6-1, 6-0
Order of finish: 6,3,1,2,4,5
* clinching point
Doubles
1. #36 Bercek/Mang (D) def. #5 Thompson/Thompson (ND); 8-3
*2. Buck/Tefft (ND) def. Plotkin/Robinson (D); 8-5
3. #52 Ciobanu/Kali Krisik (ND) def. Zawacki/Granson (D); 8-4
Order of finish: 1,3,2
* clinching point
— ND —