March 11, 2009
TAMPA, Fla. – The fourth-ranked Notre Dame women’s tennis team improved to 13-1 on the season with a 5-2 defeat of BIG EAST foe South Florida Wednesday afternoon.
The Irish quickly jumped ahead, 1-0, after sweeping the doubles matches. At No. 3 doubles, Shannon Mathews and Colleen Rielley downed Natalia Guevara and Iciri Rai, 8-3, before Cosmina Ciobanu and Kali Krisik outlasted Jessica Zok and Allyn Mueller, 8-4, at No. 2 to clinch the doubles point for Notre Dame. Second-ranked Kelcy Tefft and Kristy Frilling defeated Irene Rehberger and Lauren Shumate, 8-4, at No. 1 doubles to complete the sweep.
No. 55 Frilling put the Irish up 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-0 defeat of Zok at No. 2 singles. Mathews knocked off Mueller, 6-2, 6-3, at No. 5, before Ciobanu downed Guevara, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 4 singles, to clinch the win for the Irish.
Rai upset No. 114 Kristen Rafael, 6-2, 7-5, at No. 3 singles, to give the Bulls their first point of the match.
Krisik defeated Shumate, 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-3), at No. 6 singles, as Rehberger knocked off No. 31 Tefft, 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (10-5), at first singles to wrap up the match.
The Irish will take on Duke in Orlando, Fla., Thursday at noon.
–ND–