March 18, 2016

Box Score | Photo Gallery

By Matthew D’Alonzo ’19

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The No. 38 University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team fell against fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member and No. 29 Wake Forest 4-3 at the Eck Tennis Pavilion. Notre Dame took the doubles point, but the Demon Deacons wrested momentum during singles play.

The Fighting Irish snared the doubles point thanks to a competitive match in the final remaining contest on Court 3. First, on Court 2, Wake Forest’s doubles squad of Emma Davis and Samantha Asch took out Notre Dame’s junior duo Mary Closs and Julie Vrabel with a 6-2 decision. Close after, Notre Dame’s No. 40 doubles team of junior Monica Robinson and senior Quinn Gleason defeated Kimmy Guerin and Anna Ulyashchenko on Court 1, earning a decision of 6-3 and tying doubles competition at 1-1.

All eyes then turned to Court 3, where sophomores Brooke Broda and Allison Miller battled with Luisa Fernandez and Andrea Retolaza. It was a close match throughout, and Notre Dame brought the game to a tiebreaker at 6-all. The Irish edged out the Demon Deacons with a score of 7-3 in the breaker, winning the set and earning Notre Dame the doubles point.

Wake Forest rallied once singles began, taking the first four decisions to clinch the dual victory. The first match ended on Court 4, with Closs falling to Joanna Zalewski, 6-3, 6-3, giving the Demon Deacons the first singles point. This was followed quickly on Court 3, where Ulyashchenko took down Miller with a decision of 6-3, 6-2. Over on Court 2, No. 53 Robinson fell to Davis after a 6-1, 6-4 decision. Wake Forest clinched the win as Luisa Fernandez snared a 6-4, 6-4 decision over junior Jane Fennelly on Court 6.

The Irish salvaged the decision with some late points on Courts 1 and 6. At the top slot, No. 44 Gleason won a singles point as she earned a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 decision over No. 50 Guerin dominating in the final two sets to secure the victory. In the final match of the day, Broda eked out a win over Wake Forest’s Samantha Asch in a tough and drawn-out match, earning a final decision of 1-6, 7-5, 6-3. With the win, Broda improved to 11-0 on the spring season.

The Irish will return to action at 5 p.m. ET Thursday against North Carolina State at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center in Raleigh, N.C.

No. 29 Wake Forest 4, No. 38 Notre Dame 3
SINGLES
1. No. 44 Quinn Gleason (ND) def. No. 50 Kimmy Guerin (WF) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
2. Emma Davis (WF) def. No. 53 Monica Robinson (ND) 6-1, 6-4
3. Anna Ulyashchenko (WF) def. Allison Miller (ND) 6-3, 6-2
4. Joanna Zalewski (WF) def. Mary Closs (ND) 6-3, 6-3
5. Brooke Broda (ND) def. Samantha Asch (WF) 1-6, 7-5, 6-3
6. Luisa Fernandez (WF) def. Jane Fennelly (ND) 6-4, 6-4
DOUBLES
1. No. 40 Monica Robinson / Quinn Gleason (ND) def. Kimmy Guerin / Anna Ulyashchenko (WF), 6-3
2. Emma Davis / Samantha Asch (WF) def. Mary Closs / Julie Vrabel (ND), 6-2
3. Brooke Broda / Allison Miller (ND) vs. Luisa Fernandez / Andrea Retolaza (WF), 7-6 (7-3)

For the latest on all things Irish women’s tennis, follow @NDWomensTennis on Twitter and like Notre Dame Women’s Tennis on Facebook.

–ND–

Matthew D’Alonzo is a freshman student assistant for Fighting Irish Media, working with Athletics Communications Directors for Cross Country, Track and Field, Basketball, and Tennis. A Computer Engineering Major, Matthew is from Mobile, Alabama.