Feb. 21, 2016
By Joanne Norell
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — For the University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team, the word “DIG” has taken on a whole new meaning.
Posted in the team locker room and standing for Determination, Intensity and Gratitude, DIG serves as a reminder for the Fighting Irish to play with renewed tenacity in each match.
It’s a message the No. 32 Irish seem to have taken to heart, as Notre Dame has won six of its last seven matches, including its third straight on Sunday in a 6-1 decision over Atlantic Coast Conference foe Louisville at the Eck Tennis Pavilion.
“We’ve played five matches in the last 10 days, so it’s been tough from that aspect, traveling on the road (in two of those matches),” junior Monica Robinson said. “But having matches has been great for us, hitting a lot of balls… I think the team has done a great job just preparing mentally for travel and working hard at practices to make sure we’re keeping up that intensity on the court as well.”
The Irish (7-3, 2-0 ACC) won the doubles point for the third straight match, picking up victories on Courts 2 and 3 to take the 1-0 lead over the Cardinals. Junior Jane Fennelly and sophomore Allison Miller breezed past Elle Stokes and Ariana Rodriguez 6-0 at the No. 3 slot, while senior Julie Vrabel and junior Mary Closs defeated Olivia Boesing and Sena Suswam 6-3 at No. 2 to secure the point.
Notre Dame continued to roll as singles commenced, winning five of six matches in straight sets. Junior Monica Robinson gave the Irish their first point with 6-1, 6-1 over Ola Mally on Court 2, followed by sophomore Brooke Broda’s 6-1, 6-2 win over Boesing on Court 5. Senior Quinn Gleason, ranked 44th in the Oracle/ITA collegiate women’s singles poll, clinched the win for the Irish at 4-0 with a 6-1, 6-2 over Suswam.
Closs added to the Notre Dame advantage, defeating Rodriguez 6-2, 6-4 on Court 4, while Miller cruised in the second set against Jessie Lynn Paul in a 7-5, 6-1 decision for the final Irish tally.
The Cardinals got a point back in the final remaining singles match at No. 6, as Abbie Pahz defeated Fennelly 2-6, 6-3, 10-3.
The Irish next head to No. 48 Boston College (5-4, 0-2 ACC) for a 5 p.m. ET matchup on Friday in Dedham, Massachusetts, before continuing east to face Syracuse (7-1, 1-1 ACC) at 11 a.m. ET Sunday in Syracuse, New York.
No. 32 Notre Dame 6, Louisville 1
SINGLES
1. No. 44 Quinn Gleason (ND) def. Sena Suswam (UL) 6-1, 6-2
2. Monica Robinson (ND) def. Ola Mally (UL) 6-1, 6-1
3. Allison Miller (ND) def. Jessie Lynn Paul (UL) 7-5, 6-1
4. Mary Closs (ND) def. Ariana Rodriguez (UL) 6-2, 6-4
5. Brooke Broda (ND) def. Olivia Boesing (UL) 6-1, 6-2
6. Abbie Pahz (UL) def. Jane Fennelly (ND) 2-6, 6-3, 10-3
DOUBLES
1. No. 15 Quinn Gleason / Monica Robinson (ND) def. Jessie Lynn Paul / Abbie Pahz (UL) 5-3, unfinished
2. Mary Closs / Julie Vrabel (ND) def. Olivia Boesing / Sena Suswam (UL) 6-3
3. Jane Fennelly / Allison Miller (ND) def. Elle Stokes / Ariana Rodriguez (UL) 6-0
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To keep up with all things Irish women’s tennis, be sure to follow @NDWomensTennis on Twitter and like Notre Dame Women’s Tennis on Facebook.
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Joanne Norell, athletics communications assistant at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2014 and coordinates communications efforts for the Notre Dame women’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s tennis and fencing programs. Norell is a 2011 graduate of Purdue University and earned her master’s degree from Georgetown University in 2013.