Feb. 15, 2004
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The 26th-ranked University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team (5-1) improved to 2-0 in BIG EAST play with 5-2 win over 69th-ranked Virginia Tech (8-1, 1-1) Sunday in the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center. The Irish swept the doubles portion and posted four striaght-set wins in singles to hand the Hokies their first loss of the season. For the second year in a row, Notre Dame spoiled Tech’s strong opening. Last year the Hokies had a 9-0 start before the Irish prevailed in a 6-1 decison at home. Notre Dame will return to the courts on Friday, playing host to #20 Brigham Young at 3:30 p.m. (EST) in the Eck Tennis Pavilion.
The Irish swept the doubles matches for the second day in a row. Freshman twins Catrina Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman H.S.) and Christian Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman H.S.) had an upset at the No. 1 postion, defeating 37th-ranked Elissa Kinard and Felice Lam, 8-2.
Senior co-captain Alicia Salas (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek H.S.) and sophomore Lauren Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness H.S.) continued their success at the No. 2 postion, with an 8-4 win over Tech’s Anat Elazari and Ginger Lowdermilk. Salas and Connelly, ranked 39th, have not lost in six matches this spring and improved to 12-2 overall.
At No. 3 doubles, junior Sarah Jane Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness H.S.) and sophomore Kristina Stastny (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph’s Academy) registered a shutout against Hokies Ashley James and Carolina Rodriguez.
Stastny did not drop a game all day, follwing the shutout in doubles with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Meredith Holmes at No. 6 singles.
Lauren Connelly continued her stellar dual-match play, beating Tech’s Elissa Kinard 7-5, 6-2 at the No. 2 postion. Connelly is 6-0 in both singles and adoubles this spring.
Twins Catrina and Christian Thompson also claimed victories in singles. Catrina defeated Felice Lam, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3, while 88th-ranked Christian topped senior Ginger Lowdermilk, 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 2 spot.
Virgnia Tech’s only points came in match tie-breakers. James beat Sarah Jane Connelly 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8) at No. 5. While, Elazari, a sophomore from Tiberias, Israel, upset 14th-ranked Alicia Salas at the top position, 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (11-9).
#26 Notre Dame 5, #69 Virginia Tech 2
Singles
No. 1: Anat Elazari (VT) d. #14 Alicia Salas (ND) 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (11-9)
No. 2: #88 Christian Thompson (ND) d. Ginger Lowdermilk (VT) 6-2, 6-4
No. 3: Catrina Thompson (ND) d. Felice Lam (VT) 6-3, 6-2
No. 4: Lauren Connelly (ND) d. Elissa Kinard (VT) 7-5, 6-2
No. 5: Ashley James (VT) d. Sarah Jane Connelly (ND) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8)
No. 6: Kristina Stastny (ND) d. Meredith Holmes (VT) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
No. 1: Thompson/Thompson (ND) d. #37 Kinard/Lam (VT) 8-2
No. 2: #39 L. Connelly/Salas (ND) d. Elazari/Lowdermilk (VT) 8-4
No. 3: *S.J. Connelly/Stastny (ND) d. James/Carolina Rodriguez (VT) 8-0
Team Records: Notre Dame 5-1, Virgina Tech 8-1
— ND —