May 27, 2010
ATHENS, Ga. – The third-seeded and third-ranked Irish women’s tandem of Kali Krisik (Arkansas City, Kan.) and Kristy Frilling (Sidney, Ohio) advanced to the second round of the NCAA Doubles Championship on Thursday (May 27) with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win over North Carolina’s 13th-ranked team of Sanaz Marand and Sophie Grabinski at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga. Frilling, ranked 16 overall in singles, also competed in second round action in the NCAA Singles Championship, but was eliminated by Mississippi’s 44th-ranked Kristi Boxx.
Krisik and Frilling jumped out to a quick advantage over the Tar Heels, capturing the first set, 6-3. After falling behind 0-40 in the first game of the set, the Irish duo went on to win the next five points to take the 1-0 advantage and did not look back while running out to a 5-1 lead. Marand and Grabinski were able to narrow the lead to 5-3, but then were broken to end the first set.
Krisik and Frilling jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second set before the Tar Heels held serve to get on the board. However, the Irish tandem held both of their serves and broke the Tar Heels to wrap up the set, 6-2, and secure the win.
The victory over Marand and Grabinski marks the second time on the season that Krisik and Frilling have defeated the Tar Heel duo. Earlier in the season, the two pairs squared off in a dual match with the Irish capturing the superset, 8-4. The win also improves the Irish duo’s record to 33-2 on the season and marks the 26th consecutive win as well.
Frilling and Krisik now move on to the round of 16 and will face the 46th-ranked team of Kayla Duncan and Katariina Tuohimaa of TCU on Friday. They advanced after defeating the Northwestern’s 24th-ranked pair of Elena Chernyakova and Lauren Lui, 7-6, 6-2.
Frilling had the chance to make it 2-for-2 on the day, competing in the second round of the singles draw. However, she was unable to advance to the round of 16, faltering against Boxx, 6-2, 6-4. After Frilling squared the match at 1-1 in the first set, Boxx would put together a string of five of the next six games to capture the first set.
Frilling fell behind early in the second as well, 3-1, before closing the margin to 4-3, however still down a break. Boxx went on to hold each of her remaining service games to close out the set, 6-4, and eliminate Frilling from competition.
Frilling concludes her sophomore campaign with a 28-11 record, including 17-10 against nationally ranked opponents. In her two years with the Irish program, Frilling has compiled an impressive 58-22 record with all decisions coming from either the No. 1 or No. 2 singles position.
NCAA Doubles Championship
First Round
#3 Kristy Frilling/Kali Krisik def. #13 Sophie Grabinski/Sanaz Marand (UNC) 6-3, 6-2
NCAA Singles Championship
Second Round
#44 Kristi Boxx (Ole Miss) def. # 16 Kristy Frilling 6-2, 6-4
–ND–