April 15, 1997

Notre Dame Women’s Tennis Wins Third Straight 9-0 Match

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame’s 17th-ranked women’s tennis team won its third straight 9-0 match for the first time since 1986 on Tuesday as the Irish blanked Hawaii at the Courtney Tennis Center to finish the 1997 regular season 14-10. In 1986, under former head coach Michele Gelfman, the Irish opened the season with four straight 9-0 wins over Evansville, Marquette, DePaul and Illinois-Chicago. The 1997 Irish beat Drake 9-0 on Friday and Boston College 9-0 on Sunday before Tuesday’s win over Hawaii.

Notre Dame rolled through the singles competition, dropping just 15 games in the six wins. Jennifer Hall at No. 1 singles and Tiffany Gates at No. 3 each dropped just one in their singles wins. The two then teamed for an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles.

The Irish travel to Miami, Fla., as they return to the court looking to defend their 1996 BIG EAST title. The University of Miami will play host to the conference championships April 17-20. Top-seeded Notre Dame receives a bye in the first round and will face the Georgetown-Providence winner on Friday.

Notre Dame 9, Hawaii 0
Singles
No. 1: Jennifer Hall (ND) def. Georgina Sesto (H) 6-1, 6-0
No. 2: Marisa Velasco (ND) def. Natalie Lum (H) 6-1, 6-2
No. 3: Tiffany Gates (ND) def. Ean Phoummaly (H) 6-0, 6-1
No. 4: Kelley Olson (ND) def. Melissa Mesiona (H) 6-2, 6-0
No. 5: Darcie Sweet (ND) def. Kim Ann Young (H) 6-4, 6-2
No. 6: Sarah Scaringe (ND) def. Alicia Lee (H) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles
No. 1: Gates/Hall (ND) def. Lum/Phoummaly (ND) 8-2
No. 2: Courtney Haskell/Olson (ND) def. Mesiona/Young (H) 8-4
No. 3: Scaringe/Sweet (ND) def. Sesto/Lee (H) 8-5