April 26, 2004
For the eighth time in nine years in the league, the University of Notre Dame (10-10, 3-0 BIG EAST) has earned the top seed in the BIG EAST Conference Women’s Tennis Championship, slated for this Thursday-Saturday at the Neil Schiff Tennis Complex in Coral Gables, Fla. The Irish, ranked 27th in the nation, are the lone team to be unbeaten in league play this spring. Notre Dame gained a bye in the first round and will be in action in the semifinals on Friday at 9 a.m. (EDT) against either fourth-seeded and 73rd-ranked Virginia Tech (13-12, 6-2) or fifth-seeded Syracuse (6-11, 5-2). The final is set for Saturday at 9 a.m.
The Hokies and Orangewomen will play in the first round on Thursday at 9 a.m., while third-seeded and 56th-ranked Boston College (13-5, 2-2) and sixth-seeded Rutgers (13-7, 7-3) will face off at Noon. The winner of the latter contest will take on second-seeded and 23rd-ranked Miami (15-3, 2-1) on Friday at Noon.
Notre Dame and Miami have met in the final of the BIG EAST tournament all eight years since the Irish became a conference member in 1995-96. Notre Dame won the league title in 1996, ’97, ’99, 2001, and ’03, with last year’s contest a thrilling 4-3 decision that came down to the No. 2 doubles match with the score tied 3-3.
The Irish played three BIG EAST teams this season, beating Boston College 6-1 in a neutral-site meeting, downing Virginia Tech 5-2 on the road, and beating Miami 5-2 at home.