March 22, 2007
MADISON, Wisc. – The No. 3 Notre Dame women’s tennis team extended its winning streak to 11 matches following a 7-0 victory over Wisconsin Thursday afternoon. The Irish improved to 16-1 overall, while the Badgers dropped to 3-10.
After Notre Dame captured the all-important doubles point, the Irish simply overmatched Wisconsin in singles action. Notre Dame dropped just four games over the six singles matches.
Freshman Kali Krisik (Arkansas City, KS) made her Irish singles dual action debut. The rookie, niece of head coach Jay Louderback, had little trouble with Kim Roberts. Krisik won in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. She improved to 8-4 overall and 1-0 in dual matches.
Sophomore Katie Potts (Brookfield, WI) was nearly as dominant in her straight-set victory over Morgan Tuttle. Potts, a two-time Wisconsin State Champion, was victorious, 6-0, 6-1. She upped her record to 12-6 overall and 5-2 in dual action. Potts was making her first appearance in the Notre Dame singles lineup since Feb. 14.
Sophomore Kelcy Tefft (Enid, OK), playing at the No. 3 position for the first time in her career, registered a double-bagel win over Chelsea Nusslock, 6-0, 6-0. Tefft now stands 16-6 overall and 11-3 in dual action. She also improved her career record to 44-11 overall and 32-7 in dual matches.
#62 Freshman Cosmina Ciobanu (Brea, CA) extended her personal winning streak to a team-high 17 matches. Ciobanu picked up her second double-bagel triumph of the season. She got past Erin Jobe, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 4. Ciobanu improved to 27-4 overall and 17-0 in dual action. She remains the only Notre Dame player undefeated in dual play.
#19 Senior Catrina Thompson (Las Vegas, NV) made it three straight double-bagels with her 6-0, 6-0 win over Kaylan Caiati at No. 1. Thompson now stands 19-6 overall and 14-3 in dual action. The victory was her 92nd overall and 62nd dual match win of her illustrious career. Thompson moved into a tie for 14th place (Susie Panther, 1983-86/Becky Varnum, 1999-02) on the all-time singles victory list. She also moved into a tie for ninth place (Lisa Tholen, 1991-94/Kim Pacella, 1988-91) on the all-time singles dual match win list.
Twin sister Christian Thompson (Las Vegas, NV) rounded out the sweep for Notre Dame at No. 2. She defeated Elizabeth Carpenter, 6-1, 6-1, to move over .500 overall for the season (12-11, 9-7).
Ciobanu and Krisik opened doubles play with an 8-1 rout of Nusslock and Roberts at No. 3. The freshman tandem improved to 19-5 overall and 12-4 in dual action.
The #4 Thompson twins clinched the doubles point with their 8-1 rout over Caiati and Carpenter at No. 1. The Thompsons now stand 20-6 overall and 12-3 in dual action.
Potts and Tefft, making their doubles dual match debut, dropped their match at No. 2. Nicole Beck and Caitlin Burke won their first battle as partners this season defeating Potts and Teft in a tiebreaker. The UW pair started slowly falling behind 6-3, but came back to tie the match at 6-6. Notre Dame brought the game to 7-6, but the Badgers responded making it 7-all. In the tiebreaker, Beck and Burke earned the victory 8-7 (7-5).
The Irish return to action Friday, March 30 against Wichita State in Arkansas City, KS. First-serve is scheduled for 2:00 (CST).
#3 NOTRE DAME 7, WISCONSIN 0
Singles
1. #19 Catrina Thompson (ND) def. Kaylan Caiati (UW); 6-0, 6-0
2. Christian Thompson (ND) def. Elizabeth Carpenter (UW); 6-1, 6-1
*3. Kelcy Tefft (ND) def. Chelsea Nusslock (UW); 6-0, 6-0
4. #62 Cosmina Ciobanu (ND) def. Erin Jobe (UW); 6-0, 6-0
5. Katie Potts (ND) def. Morgan Tuttle (UW); 6-0, 6-1
6. Kali Krisik (ND) def. Kim Roberts (UW); 6-0, 6-0
Order of finish: 6,5,3,4,1,2
* clinching point
Doubles
*1. #4 Thompson/Thompson (ND) def. Caiati/Carpenter (UW); 8-1
2. Beck/Burke (UW) def Potts/Tefft (ND); 8-7 (7-5)
3. Ciobanu/Krisik (ND) def. Nusslock/Roberts (UW); 8-1
Order of finish: 3,1,2
* clinching point
— ND —