May 15, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The sixth-ranked and fifth-seeded Irish women’s tennis team is headed to the NCAA Championship Round of 16 for the second straight season. Notre Dame topped No. 47 Boise State, 4-0, Saturday at the Courtney Tennis Center and punched its ticket to Athens, Ga.
The win improved the Irish to 24-3 on the season, while the Broncos fell to 23-6. Notre Dame will take on the winner of the California-USC matchup in the NCAA Round of 16 on May 20.
Notre Dame is now 26-16 all-time in NCAA tournament action and an impressive 14-2 at home in the national championship.
The Irish took the early 1-0 lead after clinching the doubles point. The third-ranked duo of Kristy Frilling (Sidney, Ohio) and Kali Krisik (Arkansas City, Kan.) won their 22nd consecutive match with an 8-2 victory over No. 49 Lauren Megale and Pichittra Thongdach at first doubles. Cosmina Ciobanu (Brea, Calif.) and Shannon Mathews (Birmingham, Mich.) clinched their second straight doubles point for the Irish with an 8-2 win over Stephanie Jasper and Marlena Pietzuch at No. 2. Chrissie McGaffigan (Davenport, Iowa) and Kristen Rafael (Grand Prairie, Texas) were leading Elyse Edward and Bianca Jochimsen, 6-5, at No. 3 doubles when the point was clinched.
No. 16 Frilling put the Irish up 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-3 win over No. 49 Thongdach at first singles. The win improved Frilling to 20-5 on the season. Ciobanu downed Jasper, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 4 singles to give Notre Dame the 3-0 advantage. The win was Ciobanu’s 24th of the season and extended her winning streak to a team-leading nine matches. No. 108 Mathews clinched the win for the Irish with her 15th victory this season, a 7-5, 6-2 besting of Megale at second singles.
McGaffigan was battling Jochimsen, 1-6, 6-1, 2-1, at No. 3 singles when the point was clinched. Krisik led Edward, 6-0, 4-4, at No. 5 and Pietzuch led Rafael 1-6, 6-1, 2-1 at sixth singles when the match was halted.
#6 Notre Dame 4, #47 Boise State 0
Singles
1. #16 Kristy Frilling (ND) def. #49 Pichittra Thongdach (BSU) 6-2, 6-3
2. #108 Shannon Mathews (ND) def. Lauren Megale (BSU) 7-5, 6-2
3. Chrissie McGaffigan (ND) vs. Biance Jochimsen (BSU) 1-6, 6-1, 2-1, unf.
4. Cosmina Ciobanu (ND) def. Stephanie Jasper (BSU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Kali Krisik (ND) vs. Elyse Edward (BSU) 6-0, 4-4, unf.
6. Kristen Rafael (ND) vs. Marlena Pietzuch 6-1, 1-6, 1-2, unf.
Order of finish: 1,4,2
Doubles
1. #3 Frilling/Krisik (ND) def. #45 Megale/Thongdach (BSU) 8-2
2. Ciobanu/Mathews (ND) def. Jasper/Pietzuch (BSU) 8-1
3. McGaffigan/Rafael (ND) vs. Edward/Jochimsen (BSU) 6-5, unf.
Order of finish: 1,2
–ND–