March 24, 2008
Dallas, Texas – The Notre Dame women’s tennis team extended their win streak to five in a row with Monday’s victory over SMU. The #24 Irish struggled, but were helped to victory by claiming four points via default from the Mustangs.
On doubles the No. 1 ranked team of Brook Buck and Kelcy Tefft suffered their first setback since acquiring the top spot. They were defeated by the Mustangs’ team of Pavi Francis and Natalia Bubien 8-7 (7-4). The loss also snaps their personal ten game win streak as a team.
On No. 2 doubles Kali Krisik and Colleen Rielley were able to even up the doubles matches by taking down the team of Nicole Briceno and Kristen Reid, 8-2. The match marked only the fifth time on the dual season that the duo played together (3-2).
The Irish clinched the doubles point by default as the Mustangs were unable to field another team to compete.
The singles matches continued to be very hotly contested matches, but again the Irish were able to come away victorious overall. On No. 1 singles Bubien was able to slow down #38 ranked Tefft in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3. The loss ended Tefft’s four game winning streak on No. 1 singles.
With the match all even at 1-1, Krisik would put the Irish back on top for good with a convincing straight sets victory, 6-3, 6-3, over Reid. SMU was again unable to field enough match-ups for singles, so they were forced to default the No. 4-6 singles points to the Irish. The three points clinched the match for the Irish (5-1), and moves their record to 12-7 on the season.
On No. 2 singles Buck and Francis were locked up in a very close match. Francis took the first set 7-6 (10-8) for the early lead. The two would then go on to split the first six games of the second set. However, with the outcome already decided the match would go unfinished as each team decided to abandon the contest.
The Irish will next take to the tennis court on Sunday, March 30 when they will meet up with the Indiana Hoosiers. First serve is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. at the Eck Tennis Pavilion.
-ND-