Zoe Taylor & Zoe Spence

Irish Complete Sweep Of Falcons

NOTRE DAME, Indiana — The University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team moved to 2-0 on the young season Wednesday evening with a 7-0 victory over Bowling Green at the Eck Tennis Pavilion. The Irish captured the doubles point before winning all six singles matches in straight sets to earn the victory.

How It Happened

Rachel Chong and Ally Bojczuk quickly put the Irish on the verge of the doubles point as the pair did not drop a game to Bowling Green’s Polina Radeva and Ayumi Sasaki. The point was earned by Team Zoe at three singles, with Zoe Spence and Zoe Taylor earning a 6-2 win over Vanes Pardo and Marta Bettinelli.

Bess Waldram earned the first of ND’s six straight-set singles victories on court two, taking down Radeva (6-3, 6-0). That was followed quickly by Taylor winning on court six, 6-1, 6-2, over Bettinelli. Brooke Broda then clinched the Irish victory with a 6-4, 6-0 decision over Ayumi Sasaki.

Notre Dame ran the score to 7-0 thanks to victories by Ally Bojczuk (6-1, 6-2 over Marharita-Sophia Tavpash), Maeve Koscielski (6-3, 6-2 over Pardo) and Spence (6-3, 6-4 over Paula Comella).

Silverio’s Story
Head coach Alison Silverio on the match

On battles at the top of the singles line-up in both matches this season…
“Before we took the court to warm up, we had our team meeting, and one of the things we chatted about is that we want the tough matches. We want to be pushed and put in uncomfortable situations because we know that is going to make us better. I’m thrilled Zoe Spence got a tough match today. Bess had a tough first match Friday. We welcome the battles. We embrace them and that toughness is great. In the ACC, you’re putting it on the line match-in and match-out. In these early matches, to get those emotions and understanding how to deal with the nerves and being in those situations is a positive.

On the importance of the freshman playing early…
“Everyone on our team understands that they have a role and a leadership opportunity every time they take the court. For our freshmen to get that experience again is phenomenal.”

On heading on the road…
“It’s our first away match. As far as our day-to-day, it’s not going to change. We want to be consistent, but of course our logistics change. Overall, we’re going to continue to press on with our mentality and keep getting after it.”

Scoreboard

Notre Dame 7, Bowling Green 0
Jan 23, 2019 at Notre Dame, IN (Eck Tennis Pavilion) 

Singles competition
1. Zoe Spence (ND) def. Paula Comella (BG) 6-3, 6-4
2. Bess Waldram (ND) def. Polina Radeva (BG) 6-3, 6-0
3. Ally Bojczuk (ND) def. Marharita-S.Tavpash (BG) 6-1, 6-2
4. Brooke Broda (ND) def. Ayumi Sasaki (BG) 6-4, 6-0
5. Maeve Koscielski (ND) def. Vanesa Pardo (BG) 6-3, 6-2
6. Zoe Taylor (ND) def. Marta Bettinelli (BG) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Bess Waldram/Brooke Broda (ND) vs. Paula Comella/Marharita-S.Tavpash (BG) 2-5, unfinished
2. Rachel Chong/Ally Bojczuk (ND) def. Polina Radeva/Ayumi Sasaki (BG) 6-0
3. Zoe Spence/Zoe Taylor (ND) def. Vanesa Pardo/Marta Bettinelli (BG) 6-2
Match Notes
Bowling Green 1-2
Notre Dame 2-0
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (2,6,4,3,5,1)
T-2:03 A-113

Up Next

The Irish play their first ACC match of the season as they travel to Pitt on Sunday, January 27. The contest is set for Noon. It opens a stretch that sees the Irish play four straight on the road, with the next five after Pitt coming against Big Ten opponents (at Ohio State, Illinois and Indiana before hosting Purdue and Michigan State).