Oct. 23, 2003
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Notre Dame women’s tennis team won five of six matches in the qualifying round of the ITA Midwest Championships at Western Michigan University. Freshman Christian Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman H.S.) and sophmore Kelly Nelson (St. Petersburg, Fla/Shorecrest Preparatory School) each picked up two wins and will play tomorrow to attempt to earn a spot in the main draw.
Thompson, the top seed in the qualifying round, defeated Jenna Larson of Akron 6-2, 6-2 in the first round. Thompson posted a 7-6, 6-1 win over Western Michigan’s Rattiya Hiranrat in the second round She will face Brittany Reitz of Purdue tomorrow morning.
Nelson posted two three-set victories, the first over Western Michigan’s Valeria Stoilova. After losing the first set, Nelson rallied to top Stoilova 5-7, 7-6, 6-2. Nelson then upset fourth-seeded Kim Plaushines of Michigan 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Nelson is 7-3 on the young season and 3-1 in three-set matches. She will take on Indiana’s Cecile Perton tomorrow.
Senior Emily Neighbours (Indianapolis, Ind./Park Tudor School) split the day’s two matches, picking up a 6-2, 6-3 win over Northwestern’s Kristi Roemer, before falling to Carrie Jeanmaire of Western Michigan 7-5, 6-3.
The eight winners of tomorrow’s qualifying matches will earn a spot in the main draw. Play in the singles portion of the main draw will begin on Saturday. The Irish will see doubles action tomorrow in the first two rounds of the main draw.
ITA Midwest Championships
Singles – Qualifying Round of 64
(1) Christian Thompson (ND) d. Jenna Larson (Akron) 6-1, 6-2
Kelly Nelson (ND) d. Valeria Stoilova (W. Michigan) 5-7, 7-6, 6-2
Emily Neighbors (ND) d. Kristi Roemer (Northwestern) 6-2, 6-3
Singles- Qualifying Round of 32
Christian Thompson (ND) d. Rattiya Hiranrat (W. Michigan) 7-6, 6-1
Kelly Nelson (ND) d. (4) Kim Plaushines (Michigan) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Carrie Jeanmaire (W. Michigan) d. Emily Neighbors (ND) 7-5, 6-3
*qualifying seeds in parentheses