Nov. 25, 2002
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame women’s tennis coach Jay Louderback has announced the signing of a talented pair of twins who will join his squad for the 2003-04 school year. Catrina Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Christian Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev.) have signed national letters of intent to enroll at Notre Dame next year and join the Irish tennis team in the fall. The sisters were ranked No. 1 in the United States Tennis Association Girls’ 18-and-under national doubles rankings last year and both are among the top 16 high school seniors in the country in singles.
“We are excited to add two student-athletes with the ability of the Thompsons,” said Louderback. “Catrina and Christian will bring a wealth of experience to our team in both singles and doubles.”
The Thompsons, who helped Bishop Gorman High School to the Nevada state championship, have a number of notable juniors doubles titles in the 18s to their credit, including the 2001 Super National Winter Doubles Championship, the ’01 National Clay Court Championships and this year’s National Grass Court Championship. The pair reached the final of the ’02 National Clay Courts.
Catrina Thompson is 39th in the USTA girls’ 18s singles rankings and is the 16th-highest-ranked prep senior in the United States. Christian Thompson is ranked 11th nationally in singles and is fifth among players who will enter college in the fall.
The Thompsons will be the sixth set of sisters to play on the Irish women’s tennis team at the same time and will be just the fourth set of female twins to be teammates at Notre Dame. Two of those sets of twins have played tennis, with Laura and Sheila Cronin (class of ’79) preceding the Thompsons. Kristen and Jessica Kinder of the 2002 BIG EAST Champion Irish volleyball team are the only twins currently playing together for a Notre Dame women’s team.
Notre Dame women’s tennis will continue to be a family affair with the addition of the Thompsons. Currently, the Irish have two pairs of sisters on their roster: Lauren and Sarah Jane Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Liz and Maggie Donohue (Sioux Falls, S.D.).
The Irish, who had a strong fall season highlighted by the impressive play of their five freshmen, will open dual-match action on Jan. 22 at home against Western Michigan at 4:00 p.m.