April 7, 2009
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The fourth-ranked Irish women’s tennis team improved to 20-4 on the season with a 6-1 victory over Illinois Tuesday at the Atkins Tennis Center. The win gave the Irish their fourth consecutive 20-win season and 13th in program history.
Notre Dame struck first, sweeping all three doubles matches, to go up 1-0.
Colleen Rielley and Shannon Mathews defeated Amy Allin and Annie McCarthy, 8-3, at No. 3 doubles, while third-ranked Kelcy Tefft and Kristy Frilling edged Leigh Finnegan and Chelcie Abajian, 9-7, at first doubles to clinch the point for the Irish.
Kali Krisik and Cosmina Ciobanu downed Marisa Lambropoulos and Megan Fudge, 8-5, at second doubles to complete the sweep.
No. 36 Frilling topped Finnegan, 6-0, 6-1, at second singles to put the Irish up 2-0, while Ciobanu defeated Lambropoulos, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 3 singles.
Mathews downed Abajian, 6-2, 6-4, at fourth singles to clinch the win for the Irish.
Katie Potts bested Shivani Dave, 4-6, 6-3, 1-0, at sixth singles and Krisik outlasted Allin, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
Fudge upset No. 35 Tefft, 2-6, 6-4, 1-0, at first singles to notch Illinois’ only point of the match.
The Irish will host Texas A&M in their final regular-season match Saturday at the Eck Tennis Pavilion. Match time is set for 10 a.m.
–ND–