Sept. 19, 2004
BOULDER, Colol – The University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team won eight of 11 matches on Sunday at the CU-Boulder South Campus Tennis Courts to complete a dominating performance in the season-opening Colorado Invitational. The Irish posted a 28-6 record in the three-day event, and five players posted perfect 6-0 marks.
On the final day of action, Notre Dame won six of eight singles matches against Denver before beating Auburn in three doubles matches and losing once to the Pioneers.
Six Notre Dame players went 2-0 on Sunday, including sophomore Catrina Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman H.S.), who is ranked 103rd nationally in singles and seventh in doubles with her twin sister Christian Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman H.S.). Catrina Thompson registered a three-set victory over #104 Yanick Dullens of Denver, 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 for her third career win over a ranked foe.
The Thompson twins survived a slow start in doubles, rallying from 4-1 and 5-2 deficits to defeat Auburn’s pair of Jelana Jovic and Isabel Rosenbrock 8-6. Christian Thompson defeated Suzana Maksovic of Denver 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 in morning singles play.
Junior Kristina Stastny (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph’s Academy) topped Pioneer Barbara Kourim 6-1, 6-3 in the morning and then paired with senior captain Sarah Jane Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness H.S.) to beat Auburn’s Ashley Cowart and Nancy Peaden 8-1. Connelly’s singles win was a 6-3, 6-2 decision against Crystal Knysch.
Junior Lauren Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness H.S.) lost only a pair of games in singles, beating Rachel Sackmaster of Denver 6-0, 6-2. She then paired with freshman Brook Buck (Yukon, Okla./Oklahoma Christian School) to beat Auburn’s team of Sarah Suitor and Tori Almagno 8-2.
Junior Liz Donohue (Sioux Falls, S.D./O’Gorman H.S.) also posted a singles victory, downing Stephanie Ginsburg of Denver 6-3, 6-2.
Five Irish players – the Thompson twins, the Connelly sisters, and Stastny – went unbeaten in the first event of the 2004-05 season, registering three wins in singles and three in doubles apiece. Buck was 3-0 in doubles, but had a perfect tournament ruined by a three-set loss on Sunday.
Colorado Invitational – Sunday
Singles
#103 Catrina Thompson (ND) def. #104 Yanick Dullens (Denver) 6-1, 5-7, 6-3
Christian Thompson (ND) def. Suzana Maksovic (D) 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
Jenny Trettin (D) def. Brook Buck (ND) 1-6, 6-3, 6-1
Kristina Stastny (ND) def. Barbara Kourim (D) 6-1, 6-3
Lauren Connelly (ND) def. Rachel Sackmaster (D) 6-0, 6-2
Sarah Jane Connelly (ND) Crystal Knysch (D) 6-3, 6-2
Liz Donohue (ND) def. Stephanie Ginsburg (D) 6-3, 6-2
Marisa Mechem (D) def. Bailey Louderback (ND) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
#7 Thompson/Thompson (ND) def. Jelena Jovic/Isabel Rosenbrock (Auburn) 8-6
Buck/L. Connelly (ND) def. Sarah Suitor/Tori Almagno (A) 8-2
S.J. Connelly/Stastny (ND) def. Ashley Cowart/Nancy Peaden (A) 8-1
Rachel Sackmaster/Marisa Mechem (D) def. Donohue/Louderback (ND) 8-6