Feb. 24, 2008
Chapel Hill, NC – North Carolina exacted some revenge Sunday against Notre Dame, avenging two losses to the Irish last season by defeating Notre Dame 6-1 at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. The loss concluded a three-match road trip for Notre Dame that saw the Irish go 1-2.
The Irish (7-6) were unable to capture the doubles point for the first time in six matches. Carolina (7-4) posted convincing wins at the two and three doubles positions to earn the match’s initial point.
The 45th ranked team of Cosmina Ciobanu and Colleen Rielley fell to Laura Reichert and Alexandra Jurewitz 8-3. The loss was the first of the year for the sophomore duo who had posted seven consecutive wins to begin the season. Kali Krisik and Kristen Rafael fell for the second time in as many days at No. 2, this time by an 8-2 score to Austin Smith and Sophie Grabinski. Krisik and Rafael are now 2-4 this season
The lone doubles win for the Irish came from the nation’s third ranked team of Brook Buck and Kelcy Tefft. The pair earned an 8-5 victory over Sanaz Morand and Katrina Tsang, extending their winning streak to five matches.
Krisik would earn the lone singles win for Notre Dame to complete an undefeated road trip. She earned the win Sunday over Meg Fanjoy 6-4, 6-3. The sophomore won her twelfth dual win of the year, a team best. Krisik’s record stands 21-3 on the season.
Krisik’s win brought the Irish to within 3-1 with three close matches remaining. Unfortunately, the Irish would not manage to earn any of the victories. Katrina Tsang clinched the win for the Tar Heels with a 6-2, 7-6 (4) win over Brook Buck at No. 2. The winless road trip dropped Buck’s record to 7-13 this year.
Ciobanu fought valiantly at No. 3 against 76th-ranked Austin Smith but could not earn her first singles win of the trip. She fell 7-5, 6-4.
Tefft dropped her first match of the road trip and just her second of the dual season when she lost a 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 decision to 12th-ranked Sanaz Morand. Morand has yet to lose a dual match this season. Tefft’s record stands at 16-5 on the year.
Tar Heel victories came quickly at the four and five singles positions and vaulted Carolina to an insurmountable lead. Reichert defeated Rielley 6-2, 6-2 in the first match completed while Grabinski followed her teammate with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Katie Potts. Rielley dropped to 5-7 this spring while Potts fell to 6-7.
Notre Dame will return home Saturday to face unanimous #1 Georgia Tech in a 1:00 match at the Eck Tennis Pavilion. The opponent will be familiar as the Irish and Yellow Jackets met twice last season, once in the final of the ITA Indoor Championships and later in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. Both matches were decided by a 4-2 score. #5 North Carolina 6, #15 Notre Dame 1
Singles
1. #12 Sanaz Morand (UNC) def. #59 Kelcy Tefft (ND), 5-7, 6-1, 6-3
2. #28 Katrina Tsang (UNC) def. Brook Buck (ND), 6-2, 7-6 (4)
3. #76 Austin Smith (UNC) def. Cosmina Ciobanu (ND), 7-5, 6-4
4. Laura Reichert (UNC) def. Colleen Rielley (ND), 6-2, 6-2
5. Sophie Grabinski (UNC) def. Katie Potts (ND), 6-2, 6-3
6. Kali Krisik (ND) def. Meg Fanjoy (UNC), 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 4,5,6,2*,3,1
Doubles
No. 1: #3 Buck/Tefft (ND) def. Marand/Tsang (UNC), 8-5
No.2: Smith/Grabinski (UNC) def. Krisik/Rafael (ND), 8-2
No. 3: Reichert/Jurewitz (UNC) def. #45 Ciobanu/Rielley (ND), 8-3
Order of finish: 3,2*,1