Jan. 26, 2007
URBANA, Ill. – The No. 4 Notre Dame women’s tennis team was too much for Illinois Friday night at the Atkins Tennis Center, sweeping its season opener 7-0.
At No. 1 doubles, senior All-Americans Catrina and Christian Thompson (No. 11 nationally, No. 1 Midwest) battled Emily Wang and Megan Fudge. The match flip-flopped momentum in the early goings, with the Illini tying up the contest at 2-2. From there, the Irish took hold of the match, leading 7-4 despite the Illini having three early break points on the Irish’s serve. In the end, Wang and Fudge were broken to give the Thompson pair the victory, 8-4.
At No. 2 doubles, #5 Brook Buck and Kelcy Tefft routed Shivani Davé and Bryce Marable, 8-1, while the No. 3 doubles tandem of Kali Krisik and Cosmina Ciobanu defeated Kristina Minor and Momei Qu, 8-5.
The Irish continued their stronghold of the match, sweeping the singles to seal the 7-0 victory.
At No. 1 singles, #41 Catrina Thompson took on Fudge, ranked 10th in the Midwest. Despite Fudge connecting on a number of winners, Thompson walked away with a 6-2, 6-3 victory. #31 Colleen Rielley had little trouble with Qu at No. 2 singles, winning 6-3, 6-1.
Christian Thompson also cruised at No. 3 singles. She knocked off Marable, 6-2, 6-3. At No. 4 singles, Davé gave Tefft (No. 20 Midwest) all she could handle in the first set, but could not hold on, dropping the frame 7-5. In the second, Tefft took hold of the match, sealing the win with a 6-2 second set.
At No. 5 singles, Ciobanu hammered Minor, 6-1, 6-0. Katie Potts outlasted Alejandra Meza Cuadra in a three-set thriller at No. 6. Meza took the first set 6-4 to grab an early lead, but Potts rebounded to level the match at a set apiece with a 6-2 second set before grabbing the third, 10-1.
The Irish return to action on Sunday afternoon with their home opener against #12 Vanderbilt. First-serve is schedule for Noon.
#4 NOTRE DAME 7, ILLINOIS 0
Singles competition:
1. #41 Catrina Thompson (ND) def. Megan Fudge (ILL) 6-2, 6-3
2. #31 Colleen Rielley (ND) def. Momei Qu (ILL) 6-3, 6-1
3. Christian Thompson (ND) def. Bryce Marable (ILL) 6-2, 6-3
4. Kelcy Tefft (ND) def. Shivani Davé (ILL) 7-5, 6-1
5. Cosmina Ciobanu (ND) def. Kristina Minor (ILL) 6-1, 6-0
6. Katie Potts (ND) def. Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL) 4-6, 6-2, 10-1
Doubles competition
1. #11 Catrina Thompson/Christian Thompson (ND) def. Megan Fudge/Emily Wang (ILL) 8-4
2. #5 Brook Buck/Kelcy Tefft (ND) def. Bryce Marable/Shivani Davé (ILL) 8-1
3. Cosmina Ciobanu/Kali Krisik (ND) def. Kristina Minor/Momei Qu (ILL) 8-5
— ND —