NOTRE DAME, Indiana — The University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team secured a 7-0 sweep of Western Michigan on Friday night, giving head coach Alison Silverio a victory in her first dual match as the Irish head coach.
The Irish swept the doubles point (and led in the abandoned match) while dropping just one set across six singles matches in the win. Freshmen Maeve Koscielski and Zoe Taylor each won their first-career singles victories, with Koscielski clinching the match at five singles while also winning alongside Cameron Corse at three doubles.
How It Happened
Corse and Koscielski took a 6-2 decision at three doubles over Western’s Valerie Riegraf and Taylor Smith before Bess Waldram and Brooke Broda clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win over the Bronco duo of Melina Lyubomirova and Femke Tjon-A-Joe. Ally Bojczuk and Rachel Chong held a 5-4 lead over Denise Azcui and Katja Fevralev when the Irish clinched the point.
Bojczuk made quick work of Azcui (6-1, 6-0) to make it 2-0 before Taylor’s 6-2, 6-3 victory over Jeryn Jack made it 3-0. Koscielski clinched the victory with a 6-1, 6-2 decision over Valerie Riegraf. Corse and Broda won in straight sets before Waldram won a three-set victory at the top of the lineup over Lyubomirova (6-2, 3-6, 6-2) to round out the scoring.
Match Notes
- The win was Silverio’s first in a dual match as the head coach at Notre Dame. Previously, she won 52 matches as the head coach at Oregon.
- Notre Dame improved to 19-4 all-time against the Broncos.
- It was the second time in the junior’s career Waldram played at the top of the singles lineup. She previously won at the spot a season ago at IUPUI.
Silverio’s Story
Head coach Alison Silverio on the match
On opening the season…
“For us the fall was an opportunity to embrace some transitions and work on our development. There were a lot of improvements throughout the fall. We came back a week early (before classes started) and we had a couple weeks before our first match and we beat up on each other pretty good. It was great to get out here today and be able to perform in front of a great crowd and against a good opponent like Western Michigan.”
On winning the doubles point…
“Overall we came out a little tentative, which is to be expected our first match into the season. We were able to work through some things on all three courts. Moving forward, for us, we’ve got to continue to take care of our serves and our returns. The first three shots are extremely important in doubles, so we’ve got to be a little more disciplined with those. Overall, we stuck with our gameplan.”
On two freshmen winning in singles…
“It was great for them. Maeve clinched her first-ever college match, which is pretty cool, and Zoe as well, for them to step-up in their first match. We’re fortunate we have great leadership from the top that trickles down. Everyone understands what we’re about when we take the court and what it means to represent this great University.”
On winning her first dual match…
“It feels excellent. It feels great to be able to start this journey this season, all together, and the best is yet to come.”
Scoreboard
Notre Dame 7, Western Michigan 0
Jan 18, 2019 at Notre Dame, IN (Eck Tennis Pavilion)
| Singles competition |
| 1. Bess Waldram (ND) def. Melina Lyubomirova (WMU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 2. Ally Bojczuk (ND) def. Denise Azcui (WMU) 6-1, 6-0 |
| 3. Brooke Broda (ND) def. Katja Fevralev (WMU) 6-1, 6-4 |
| 4. Cameron Corse (ND) def. Femke Tjon-A-Joe (WMU) 6-4, 6-2 |
| 5. Maeve Koscielski (ND) def. Valerie Riegraf (WMU) 6-1, 6-2 |
| 6. Zoe Taylor (ND) def. Jeryn Jack (WMU) 6-2, 6-3 |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. Bess Waldram/Brooke Broda (ND) def. Melina Lyubomirova/Femke Tjon-A-Joe (WMU) 6-3 |
| 2. Ally Bojczuk/Rachel Chong (ND) vs. Denise Azcui/Katja Fevralev (WMU) 5-4, unfinished |
| 3. Maeve Koscielski/Cameron Corse (ND) def. Valerie Riegraf/Taylor Smith (WMU) 6-2 |
| Match Notes |
| Western Michigan 1-1 |
| Notre Dame 1-0 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,6,5,4,3,1) |
| T-2:127 |
Up Next
The Irish host another Mid-American Conference opponent at the Eck Tennis Pavilion on Wednesday, January 23, when Bowling Green visits at 5 p.m. Follow live on UND.com/tennisstream.