April 27, 2011
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Kristen Rafael (Grand Prairie, Texas), a senior on the University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team, has been named BIG EAST Player of the Week, it was announced by the league on Wednesday. The senior earns the distinction for the first time in her Irish career in what is the final week that the award is bestowed for the 2010-11 season.
Rafael helped the Irish to a Senior Day victory over DePaul (6-1) on April 23, claiming both a doubles victory as well as locking up the match-clinching point in singles. She got her day started teaming with Chrissie McGaffigan (Davenport, Iowa) to take down Kelsey Lawson and Gia McKnight at No. 2 doubles, 8-2, to secure an Irish doubles sweep over the Blue Demons.
In singles, Rafael clinched the match for Notre Dame after defeating Christiana Raymond at No. 4, 6-0, 6-1. The senior has won five consecutive matches since moving to the No. 4 court and has not dropped a set in the process. She finished the dual season with a record of 10-9.
Rafael and the Irish return to action this Friday as they take to the courts for a quarterfinal match against either Georgetown or Cincinnati in the BIG EAST Tournament at 9:00 a.m. (ET) at the Leeper Park Tennis Center.
–ND–