May 13, 2000
First Round: Notre Dame 5, UIC 0
Notre Dame head coach Jay Louderback
On the match: “I thought we played well today. They were a good team and it was good for us to get the doubles in because we hadn’t played in three weeks. Plus playing out in this bad weather will help us for tomorrow.”
On his team: “These kids have worked hard all year and last year (losing in the second round) motivated them a lot because they didn’t enjoy that at all. They’re a good bunch and they fight hard.”
Notre Dame player Kelly Zalinski
On her match: “The wind played a huge factor in the match today but I hung in there and pulled it out and that’s what counts — getting the ‘W’ for the team. I’ve been having great days of practice and have been playing well so one bad day doesn’t have me worried.”
On the conditions: “I can honestly say that it was me against the wind out there. She (UIC’s Nicole Derouin) played a great match but the biggest thing for me was just the wind and for me to be patient. I had to realize that I couldn’t play my game.”
On tomorrow’s match: “We’re pumped up for tomorrow and we’re going to come out on fire.”
UIC head coach Mary Dailey
On the match: “Obviously Notre Dame is a tough team and they played well. I thought the conditions would favor us a little bit, but they played well. They’re just better. What it came down to was that they had just a little more belief.”