Sept. 23, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Three seniors began the 2005-06 campaign for the University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team on Friday, taking part in the Maryland Invitational at the Tennis Center at College Park. Senior captain Lauren Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness H.S.) notched the first victory of the season for the Irish before bowing to the No. 2 seed of the “A” flight.
Connelly earned a first-round victory in the “A” flight, rallying from losing the first set for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win against Rashmee Patil, the No. 2 player for Yale last spring. It was the sixth time in her career that Connelly came back to win after dropping the opening set. She also has now won four consecutive three-set affairs. The victory was the 60th of her career (in now 102 completed matches). Connelly then fell to 31st-ranked Ramona But of Maryland 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 in the quarterfinals.
Senior Kristina Stastny (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph’s Academy) lost in the opening round, but then bounced back with a 6-1, 6-1 victory against Lauren Seaman of Louisiana State in consolation action. She will face Jessi Robinson of Duke in the consolation championship on Saturday.
Connelly and Stastny teamed together in doubles for the first time and lost to a team from Yale.
Another senior, Kelly Nelson (St. Petersburg, Fla./Shorecrest Preparatory School), returned to action for the first time in nearly two years, but lost in the opening round of the “B” flight.
Maryland Invitational, Day One (September 23)Singles - "A" FlightJanet Kim (Yale) d. Kristina Stastny (ND) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 - first roundLauren Connelly (ND) d. Rashmee Patil (Yale) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 - first round[2] #31 Ramona But (Maryland) d. Connelly (ND) 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 - quarterfinalsStastny d. Lauren Seaman (LSU) 6-1, 6-1 - consolation semifinalsSingles - "B" FlightMonica Lyskawa (West Virginia) d. Kelly Nelson (ND) 6-3, 6-2 - first roundDoubles - "A" FlightAimee Kim/Janet Kim (Yale) d. Connelly/Stastny (ND) 8-5