April 21, 2000

MIAMI, Fla. — The 13th-ranked Notre Dame women’s tennis team swept the singles to defeat ninth-seeded Rutgers 6-0 on Friday in the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Women’s Tennis Championships at the Neil Schiff Tennis Complex in Miami, Fla. With their quarterfinal win, the top-seeded and defending champion Irish advance to Saturday’s semifinals to meet the winner of a later quarterfinal between fourth-seeded Boston College and fifth-seeded Seton Hall. Notre Dame improves to 20-5 with the win, marking its third consecutive 20-win season and fourth in the last five seasons.

Junior All-American Michelle Dasso clinched the win with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Donna Krouzman at No. 1 singles for Notre Dame’s fifth point. Sophomore Becky Varnum beat Karla Porter 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2 singles just seconds after Dasso won, while senior Kelly Zalinski won her school-record 118th career singles match by beating Carissa Sommerlad 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3 singles. Sophomores Nina Vaughan and Lindsey Green won at Nos. 4 and 5 singles. Vaughan defeated Jennifer Hellier 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4 singles, while Green was the winner when Kristin Shaughnessy was forced to retire with an injury after losing the first set 6-0. Senior Sarah Scaringe won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 6 singles. The doubles was cancelled since the outcome of the match was determined after singles.

#13 NOTRE DAME 6, RUTGERS 0

Singles

No. 1: #16 Michelle Dasso (ND) def. Donna Krouzman (R) 6-1, 6-1

No. 2: Becky Varnum (ND) def. Karla Porter (R) 6-2, 6-3

No. 3: Kelly Zalinski (ND) def. Carissa Sommerlad (R) 6-1, 6-2

No. 4: Nina Vaughan (ND) def. Jennifer Hellier (R) 6-1, 6-1

No. 5: Lindsey Green (ND) Kristin Shaughnessy (R) 6-0, ret.

No. 6: Sarah Scaringe (ND) def. Aimee Bodnar (R) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles

Cancelled.

–ND–