Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Dasso, Hall Reach Quarterfinals At NCAA Doubles Championships

May 25, 1999

GAINESVILLE, Fla. Notre Dames No. 5-8 seeded doubles team of senior Jennifer Hall and sophomore Michelle Dasso advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA doubles championship with a straight-set win on Tuesday at the University of Florida. The eighth-ranked Irish duo lost a 5-1 first set lead but held on for 7-5, 6-4 win over 30th-ranked Kaysie Smashey and Sandy Sureephong of Texas. The win improved their record to 28-9 and sets up a quarterfinal match against Georgias top-seeded and top-ranked Marissa Catlin and Vanessa Castellano who have dropped just three games in cruising through the first two rounds.

“I felt like we came out and played really well, said Hall, who is making her third NCAA doubles appearance. We came out strong and got up 5-1 but then let them back into it and they tied it up. We just really picked it up to close off the set.”

“We played really well, said Dasso, who is making her first appearance in the NCAA doubles championship. They are a really great team so I’m excited about how we did. It was a close match all around. We were ahead early and then made some errors so they came back, but it was tough of us to win that game after being tied. That was key for us.”

The quarterfinal appearance marks the second consecutive for Hall after reaching the same round a year ago with former partner Tiffany Gates. Dasso and Hall have earned doubles All-America honors by meeting two of the three criteria, earning one of eight seed in the 32-team draw and by reaching of the quarterfinals. A final Intercollegiate Tennis Association ranking among the top 10 doubles team also would qualify for All-America honors. Hall will finish her Notre Dame as a three-time All-America, twice in doubles (97 and 98) and once in singles (96). After earning a No. 8 seed in singles this year, Dasso becomes the first Notre Dame player to earn singles and doubles All-America honors in the same year since Wendy Crabtree in 1994.