April 17, 2011
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The 22nd-ranked University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team claimed a 6-1 victory over Marquette on Sunday at the Helfaer Tennis Stadium. Despite losing the opening point in doubles, the Irish swept through singles to earn the decisive victory.
For the first time all season, Notre Dame dropped the doubles point and still claimed the match when all courts had finished play. At No. 1 doubles, the 15th-ranked tandem Kristy Frilling (Sidney, Ohio) and Shannon Mathews (Birmingham, Mich.) continued their torrid streak, defeating Rachael Hush and Christina Ruiz, 8-1, to move the Irish within one win of claiming the doubles point. The Irish duo is now 17-3 on the dual season, and has won 14 straight matches.
However, Marquette rebounded from this loss to take the remaining two doubles matches. At No. 3, Jennifer Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Julie Sabacinski (Plantation, Fla.) fell to Gillian Hush and Chelsea Utting, 8-5, just before Chrissie McGaffigan (Davenport, Iowa) and Kristen Rafael (Grand Prairie, Texas) lost to Olga Fischer and Rocio Diaz at No. 2 doubles, 8-6.
The Irish then turned to their three ranked singles players to take momentum back in the contest. Mathews, ranked 64th, was first to finish up her match, taking down Paola Calderon at No. 2 singles, 6-1, 6-1. With the victory, she improves to 15-3 on the season at the No. 2 spot.
Shortly after, #95 Kellner finished off R. Hush at No. 3 singles, 6-0, 6-1. The Irish freshman is now 17-3 on the dual season and is 6-1 at the No. 3 position. She also extended her current winning streak to six matches.
Frilling was next to close out her opponent for the Irish, as the fourth ranked player in the nation defeated Fischer, 6-3, 6-0. The Irish junior is now 16-2 on the dual season and has claimed 82 wins in her career.
Rafael clinched the match at No. 4 singles, defeating G. Hush (6-1, 6-3) for her fourth straight win since moving to that court. The senior has now won nine dual matches this season and is 65-41 for her career.
The final two matches saw McGaffigan defeat Utting at No. 5 (6-0, 6-3) and Sabacinski knock off Ruiz at No. 6 (6-3, 6-1) to complete the singles sweep.
Notre Dame now returns home for its final regular season matchup of the 2011 season. The Irish play host to DePaul at 1:00 p.m. (ET) on April 23 on Senior Day.
#22 Notre Dame 6, Marquette 1Apr. 17, 2011 at Halfaer Tennis Stadium
Singles Results:1. #4 Kristy Frilling (ND) def. Olga Fischer (MAR) 6-3, 6-02. #64 Shannon Mathews (ND) def. Paola Calderon (MAR) 6-1, 6-13. #95 Jennifer Kellner (ND) def. Rachael Hush (MAR) 6-0, 6-14. Kristen Rafael (ND) def. Gillian Hush (MAR) 6-1, 6-35. Chrissie McGaffigan (ND) def. Chelsea Utting (MAR) 6-0, 6-36. Julie Sabacinski (ND) def. Christina Ruiz (MAR) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles Results:1. #15 Kristy Frilling/Shannon Mathews (ND) def. Rachael Hush/Christina Ruiz (MAR) 8-12. Olga Fischer/Rocio Diaz (MAR) def. Chrissie McGaffigan/Kristen Rafael (ND) 8-63. Gillian Hush/Chelsea Utting (MAR) def. Jennifer Kellner/Julie Sabacinski (ND) 8-5
Match Notes:Notre Dame: 12-9Marquette: 17-9Order of finish: Doubles: (1,3,2); Singles (2,3,1,4,5,6)