Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Irish Begin Play in Final Event of Fall Season

Nov. 7, 2003

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Notre Dame women’s tennis team completed its first day of play on Friday in the Midwest Blast at the Atkins Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Illinois. The Irish picked up three singles victories against Virginia and one doubles win against Miami.

Freshman Christian Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman H.S.) was undefeated on the day as she and Catrina Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman H.S.) posted the lone Irish victory in doubles. The Thompsons topped Miami’s Sara Robbins and Staci Stevens 8-1. Christian Thompson went on to notch a 6-1, 6-4 singles win over Mariko Fritz-Krockow of Virginia.

Junior Sarah Jane Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuiness H.S.) battled back after losing the first set 2-6 to grab a win over the Cavaliers’ Marta Blechliwanis. Connelly won the second set in a 7-3 tiebreaker and finished strong, winning the third set 6-1.

Senior Emily Neighbours (Indianapolis, Ind./Park Tudor School) picked up the day’s third singles win for Notre Dame, beating Virginia’s Shannon Stough in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4.

The Midwest Blast features a “hidden dual” format, in which teams play simulated dual matches against each other, but no team scores are recorded. All individual results are counted for ranking purposes. The Irish will return to action tomorrow facing Illinois in doubles and Miami in singles.

Midwest Blast-Day One

Singles

Christian Thompson (ND) d. Mariko Fritz-Krockow (Virginia), 6-1, 6-4

Kristen James (Virginia) d. Catrina Thompson (ND), 7-5, 4-6, 6-0

Lauren Bruch (Virginia) d. Kristina Stastny (ND), 6-1, 6-3

Sarah Jane Connelly (ND) d. Marta Bechliwanis (Virginia) 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1

Caroline Hammond (Virginia) d. Kelly Nelson (ND), 6-7 (7-4), 6-4, 6-1

Emily Neighbors (ND) d. Shannon Stough (Virginia), 6-0, 6-4

Dora Bechliwanis (Virginia) d. Liz Donohue (ND) 7-5, 6-2

Doubles

Thompson/Thompson (ND) d. Sara Robbins/Staci Stevens (Miami), 8-1

Melissa Applebaum/Sihem Benncer (Miami) d. #43 S. Connelly/Stastny (ND), 8-6

Audrey Banada/Mari Toro (Miami) d. Donohue/Nelson (ND), 8-5

— ND —