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Irish have Strong Showing In Midwest Championships

Oct. 24, 2003

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Notre Dame women’s tennis team continued play in the ITA Midwest Championships today at Western Michigan University. The Irish won seven of nine matches on day two of the Championships. Freshman Christian Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman H.S.) advanced to the main draw in singles after pickng up a victory in the qualifying round of 16. Three Irish doubles teams advanced to the round of 16.

Thompson, the top seed in the qualifying round, dropped the first set to Purdue’s Brittany Reitz, but rallied to pick up the win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. She advances to the singles main draw which begins play tomorrow.

Sophomore Kelly Nelson (St. Petersburg, Fla./Shorecrest Preparatory School) fell to Cecile Perton of Indiana in the qualfying round of 16, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

In doubles action, Nelson and sophomore Liz Donohue (Sioux Falls, S.D./O’Gorman H.S.) were edged out by Illinois Akritas and Cehajic, 9-7.

Junior Sarah Jane Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness H.S.) and sophomore Kristina Stastny (St. Louis, Mo./St.Joseph’s Academy), ranked 43rd in the nation, posted a pair of 8-4 victories the first over Thompson and Wieman of Ball State. The pair went on to win over Purdue’s Burgarello and Rodriguez.

Freshmen Christian and Catrina Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman H.S.) posted an 8-4 win over Exon and Nolan of Michigan, then beat Butler’s Griffin and Laun to earn a spot in the round of 16.

Sophomore Lauren Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness H.S.) and senior co-captain Alicia Salas (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek H.S.), ranked 36th nationally, topped Cincinnati’s Hinton and Molony 8-3, then shutout Blanco and Trapani of Southern Illinois. Connelly and Salas improve to 5-1 on the season.

The Irish will return to the courts tomorrow in both singles and doubles action.

ITA Midwest Championships

Singles – Qualifying Round of 16

Christian Thompson (ND) d. Brittany Reitz (Pur.) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3

Cecile Perton (Ind.) d. Kelly Nelson (ND) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

Doubles – Round of 64

#43 S.J. Connelly/Stastny (ND) d. Thompson/Wieman (Ball St.) 8-4

Akritas/Cehajic (Ill.) d. Donohue/Nelson (ND) 9-7

Thompson/Thompson (ND) d. Exon/Nolan (Mich.) 8-4

#36 L. Connelly/Salas (ND) d. Hinton/Molony (Cin.) 8-3

Doubles – Round of 32

#43 S.J. Connelly/Stastny (ND) d. Burgarello/Rodriguez (Pur.) 8-4

Thompson/Thompson (ND) d. Griffin/Laun (Butler) 8-3

#36 L. Connelly/Salas (ND) d. Blanco/Trapani (S. Ill) 8-0

— ND —