Freshman Britney Sanders earned the blue doubles draw title, along with teammate Jennifer Kellner, and will play for the blue singles draw title on Sunday.

Women's Tennis Posts Second Impressive Day At Eck Tennis Classic

Oct. 2, 2010

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame women’s tennis team secured eight more victories between singles and doubles play on day two of action Saturday at the Eck Tennis Classic from the Courtney Tennis Center and Eck Tennis Pavilion. Freshmen Britney Sanders (Ontario, Canada) and Jennifer Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y.) captured the blue doubles draw championship.

Sanders and Kellner knocked off the team of Lazarevic and Pezzotti of Kansas in the semifinals of the draw, advancing to the flight championship where they defeated Karaitiana and Kichoutkin of Tulsa, 8-1, for the flight title.

The team of Chrissie McGaffigan (Davenport, Iowa) and Julie Sabacinski (Plantation, Fla.) finished third in the blue draw. After being knocked out of the main draw by Karaitiana and Kichoutkin in the semis, the pair recovered to defeat Lazarevic and Pezzotti in the consolation match, 8-5.

Kristen Rafael (Grand Prairie, Texas) and JoHanna Manningham (Mishawaka, Ind.) earned a slot in the gold doubles draw championship match after knocking off Malley and Steele of Ohio State. The duo finished runner-up after falling to Erofeeva and Szatkowska of Tulsa in the finals, 8-4.

Only one round of singles action took place on the second day, with the Irish compiling four wins. Sanders matched up against her teammate McGaffigan in the blue draw semifinals, defeating her in straight sets (6-4, 6-4). She squares off against Rafael in the finals, after the senior defeated Steele in the second semifinal by the score of 6-2, 6-3.

In the gold draw, Kellner earned a berth in the finals after emerging victorious over Szathowska of Tulsa (7-5, 6-2). Sabacinski competed in the other gold semifinal, falling to Erofeeva of Tulsa (6-3, 6-4).

Manningham notched a victory over VanWallengnem of Dayton, 6-1, 6-2, in the green draw consolation bracket.

The third and final day of action will get underway on Sunday at 9 a.m. with the conclusion of singles competition taking place. Admission to the day’s matches is free of charge.

Check back with und.com for a complete recap of the Irish on the final day of competition at the Eck Tennis Classic.

–ND–