March 13, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame women’s tennis player Jennifer Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.) has been tabbed BIG EAST Women’s Tennis Player of the Week, it was announced by the league Tuesday. This is the fourth weekly honor for a Notre Dame women’s player.
The sophomore earned the honor after putting together a 2-0 match against No. 20 Texas Tech on Monday in a 4-3 victory. Kellner competed at No. 3 doubles alongside partner Chrissie McGaffigan (Davenport, Iowa) before playing at No. 3 during singles play.
Kellner’s victories both came in dramatic fashion against the Red Raiders, as she came from behind in both to claim wins. In doubles play, Kellner and McGaffigan fell behind Texas Tech’s pairing of Elizabeth Ullathorne and Rashmi Teltumbde 7-0 before running off eight consecutive games and eventually closing out the set and the doubles point in a tiebreaker, 9-8 (7-4).
In singles action, Kellner fell behind Teltumbde 2-6, 0-4, before turning up the pressure and fighting back to win the second set, 7-6. The Irish sophomore then pulled away for a 6-3 win in the decisive third set to clinch her match and win the overall contest for Notre Dame.
Kellner becomes the third Irish player to receive player-of-the-week honors along with Shannon Mathews (twice) and Kristy Frilling (once). It is her first recognition of the year and second of her career.
Kellner and the Irish return to the courts Tuesday as they face Hawai’i at the UH Tennis Complex in Honolulu, Hawai’i. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET).
BIG EAST Women's Tennis Player of the WeekMarch 13 Jennifer Kellner Notre DameMarch 6 Shannon Mathews Notre DameFeb. 28 Loreto Alonso Martinez USFFeb. 21 Kristy Frilling Notre DameFeb. 14 Jasmin Kling DePaulFeb. 7 Rebeca Mitrea DePaulJan. 31 Shannon Mathews Notre DameJan. 24 Loreto Alonso Martinez USF
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