Sept. 17, 2004
BOULDER, Colo. – The University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team had an outstanding opening day of the 2004-05 season Friday, winning nine of 12 matches in the Colorado Invitational. The Irish took on the host school in singles and played doubles matches against Denver, with each of Notre Dame’s top six players ending up unbeaten on the day. Among the highlights were sophomore Christian Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman H.S.) upsetting the nation’s 67th-ranked player after teaming with her twin sister, Catrina Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman H.S.) to top the 24th-ranked doubles team in college tennis.
Christian Thompson, unranked in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national singles rankings after being as high as 88th last season, defeated #67 Lynzee Kever of Colorado 6-4, 6-4. It was just her second career win over a ranked foe and first vs. a top-100 opponent.
Earlier in the day, the Thompson twins, ranked seventh in the nation, topped Denver’s team of Yanick Dullens and Suzana Maksovic 8-4. The Pioneers duo was 25-5 in 2003-04, including 19-3 at No. 1 doubles. It was the third career win for the Thompsons against a top-25 foe.
Freshman Brook Buck (Yukon, Okla./Oklahoma Christian School) had a successful first day of collegiate competition, teaming with junior Lauren Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness H.S.) to top Denver’s pair of Jenny Trettin and Barara Kourim 8-5. That Pioneers duo was 24-4 in 2003-04, including 20-2 at No. 2 doubles. Buck then came back from a one-set deficit to defeat Colorado’s Veera Nurmi 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in singles.
Catrina Thompson, who played No. 3 for the Irish in 2004 and is currently ranked 103rd in singles, defeated Colorado’s No. 2 player from a year ago, Jessica Vanderdys, 6-1, 6-2. Lauren Connelly, who played No. 4 for Notre Dame in ’04, rallied to defeat Kendra Strandemo, who was CU’s No. 3 player last season, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Junior Kristina Stastny (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph’s Academy) lost only a single game in singles, downing Jenny Hanson of Colorado 6-0, 6-1 after teaming with senior captain Sarah Jane Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness H.S.) to top Denver’s Rachel Sackmaster and Marisa Mecham 9-8 (7-3) in doubles. Connelly beat Gleisy Torres 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) in singles to complete her perfect day.
Notre Dame will continue action in the Colorado Invitational on Saturday, facing Auburn in singles matches at 10:30 a.m. (MDT) before taking on both Colorado and Denver in doubles afterwards.
Singles
Christian Thompson (ND) def. #67 Lynzee Kever (Colorado) 6-4, 6-4
#103 Catrina Thompson (ND) def. Jessica Vanderdys (C) 6-1, 6-2
Lauren Connelly (ND) def. Kendra Strandemo (C) 1-6, 6-4, 6-1
Brook Buck (ND) def. Veera Nurmi (C) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
Kristina Statsny (ND) def. Jenny Hanson (C) 6-0, 6-1
Sarah Jane Conneally (ND) def. Gleisy Torres (C) 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)
Martina Sedivec (C) def. Liz Donohue (ND) 7-5, 6-3
Allison Quinn (C) def. Bailey Louderback (ND) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
#7 Thompson/Thompson (ND) def. #24 Yanick Dullens/SuzanaMaksovic (Denver) 8-4
Buck/L. Conneally (ND) def. Jenny Trettin/Barara Kourim (D) 8-5
S.J. Conneally/Statsny (ND) def. Rachel Sackmaster/Marisa Mechem (D) 9-8 (7-3)
Crystal Knysh/Stephanie Ginsburg (D) def. Donohue/Louderback (ND) 8-1