May 8, 2009
Exclusive Video Recap
Final Stats
NOTRE DAME, Ind. -
The fifth-ranked Irish women's tennis team eased through the first round of the NCAA tournament Friday with a 4-0 win over Illinois Chicago at the Courtney Tennis Center.
The Irish are now 25-4 on the season and 11-2 in NCAA matches at home.
The Irish jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after clinching the doubles point. At No. 3 doubles, Shannon Mathews and Colleen Rielley cruised to an 8-0 win over Jenna Reisch and Ulrikke von Ubisch, before Cosmina Ciobanu and Kali Krisik bested Elena Antakova and Illinca Crestescu, 8-1, to clinch the point at No. 2 doubles. Ciobanu and Krisik jumped out to a 6-0 lead, before giving up the point to the Flames, then taking the next two to win the match.
Kelcy Tefft and Kristy Frilling were leading Mariya Kovaleva and Kristen McPhillips, 6-2, at No. 1 doubles when the match was called.
Mathews put the Irish up 2-0 with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Antakova at No. 4 singles. Mathews scored five straight in the first set, then notched the last four points of the second set to earn the win.
Kristen Rafael downed Reisch, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 6 singles to earn Notre Dame's third point of the match. Ciobanu topped McPhillips, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 3 singles to clinch the win for the Irish.
Tefft was leading Kovaleva, 6-1, 5-0, at No. 1 singles when the match was retired. Frilling was up 6-2, 4-1, at No. 2 singles and Krisik led Amy Jellish, 6-3, 2-2 at fifth singles when the match was called.
The Irish notched 65 total singles points compared to UIC's 14.
Notre Dame will now take on Michigan Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the Courtney Tennis Center, with the winner advancing to the round of 16.
Tickets for Saturday's match are $5 for adults and $3 for youth and senior citizens.
Earlier on Friday, Michigan earned their ticket to the second round with a 4-2 victory over Sacramento State. The Wolverines earned the doubles point with wins at first and second doubles. Michigan's Rika Matsuno downed the Hornets' Maria Meliuk at No. 2 singles, before Joyce Martinez Gutierrez, of Sacramento State, topped Michigan's Michelle Sulahian to pull the Hornets within 2-1. Michigan's Denise Muresan defeated Sacramento State's Melissa Valenzuela at third singles to put Michigan up 3-1, but the Hornets' Katrina Zheltova bested Michigan's Chisako Sugiyama at No. 1 singles to make it a 3-2 game. The Wolverines' Tania Mahtani outlasted Sacramento State's Clarisse Baca, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), at No. 5 singles to clinch the win for Michigan.
#5 Notre Dame 4, Illinois Chicago 0
Singles competition
1. Kelcy Tefft (ND) vs. Mariya Kovaleva (UIC) 6-1, 5-0, unfinished
2. Kristy Frilling (ND) vs. Ilinca Cristescu (UIC) 6-2, 4-1, unfinished
3. Cosmina Ciobanu (ND) def. Kristen McPhillips (UIC) 6-1, 6-2
4. Shannon Mathews (ND) def. Elena Antakova (UIC) 6-0, 6-1
5. Kali Krisik (ND) vs. Amy Jellish (UIC) 6-3, 2-2, unfinished
6. Kristen Rafael (ND) def. Jenna Reisch (UIC) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Kelcy Tefft/Kristy Frilling (ND) vs. Mariya Kovaleva/Kristen McPhillips (UIC) 6-2, unfinished
2. Cosmina Ciobanu/Kali Krisik (ND) def. Elena Antakova/Ilinca Cristescu (UIC) 8-1
3. Shannon Mathews/Colleen Rielley (ND) def. Jenna Reisch/Ulrikke von Ubisch (UIC) 8-0
Match Notes:
Illinois Chicago 15-8
Notre Dame 25-4; National ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (4,6,3)
NCAA First Round
--ND--
