Oct. 19, 2012
URBANA, Ill. – The University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team enjoyed a banner outing in doubles action Friday on the second day of the United States Tennis Association/International Tennis Association Midwest Regional Championships at the Atkins Tennis Center.
All four Fighting Irish doubles pairs entered in the tournament advanced through both rounds of play, and each group will compete in the round of 16 in the doubles draw on Saturday.
The No. 36 ranked duo of juniors Britney Sanders (Ontario, Calif.) and Julie Sabacinski (Plantation, Fla.) rolled over UIC’s Haley Craig and Kathryn Sharples 8-1 in the round of 32. Sanders and Sabacinski moved their 2012 fall record to a perfect 5-0 with the win, and will face Ana Vladutu and Rebeca Mitrea of DePaul at 10 a.m. (ET) Saturday for a place in the quarterfinal round.
Sophomores Molly O’Koniewski (Hilton Head, S.C.) and Katherine White (Columbus, Ga.) won their first two matches of the doubles draw, outpointing Ohio State’s Kelsey Becker and Nicole Flower 8-5 and Toledo’s Lexy Pitt and Pia Rygh 8-6. The Notre Dame duo is scheduled to face No. 10 Nida Hamilton/Linda Abu Mushrefova of Northwestern Saturday at 10 a.m. (ET).
Senior Chrissie McGaffigan (Davenport, Iowa) and junior Jennifer Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.) won their first match of the fall slate after earning an opening-round bye, blanking Silvia Carvajal and Emily Mazzola of Toledo 8-0 in the round of 32. The Notre Dame co-captains will square off with Ohio State’s Fidan Manashirova/Gabby Steele Saturday in the round of 16.
Freshman Quinn Gleason (Mendon, N.Y.) and junior JoHanna Manningham (Mishawaka, Ind.) closed their first day in the doubles draw with a pair of victories to their credit, ousting Northern Illinois duo Nelle Youle and Arantaza De La Torre 8-6 before blanking Megan Pazdernick and Holly Conlin of Western Illinois 8-0.
Follow all of the action at the USTA/ITA Midwest Regional Championships all weekend long at UND.com.
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