March 5, 2006
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The University of Illinois women's tennis team, ranked 49th in the nation, lost to fifth-ranked Notre Dame, 7-0, at the Irish's Eck Tennis Pavilion on Sunday afternoon despite getting an emotional lift with a big win over the nation's second-ranked doubles team.
"We played the best we could, but Notre Dame had too much firepower," head coach Sujay Lama said. "We have been playing the best teams in the country and I am positive it is going to pay off. We're going to go back and focus on Louisville and get ready to get back on the winning track."
The loss drops Illinois' record to 4-6, with each defeat coming to opponents ranked inside the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's top-35, while Notre Dame improves to 11-0 on the year.
The Irish jumped out to a 1-0 lead after sealing the doubles point with wins at No. 3 and No. 2. However, the Illini went into the break with some momentum after Macall Harkins and Emily Wang upset junior All-American twins and 2005 ITA All-American doubles champions Catrina and Christian Thompson, 8-4.
"Today was our best doubles performance of the year," Lama said. "Ironically it was against the best doubles combinations in the nation. Emily and Macall had a huge win and we played tough at two and three."
Brook Buck put the Irish ahead 2-0 with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Brianna Knue at No. 3 and soon after, Katie Potts put the Irish one point away from clinching the match with a 6-4, 6-1 victory at No. 6 over Shivani Dave. Kristina Stastny sealed the Notre Dame win at No. 5 with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Alejandra Meza Cuadra at No. 5. The Irish followed with three more straight set wins at Nos. 2, 1, and 4, respectively.
The Illini return to action on Friday night with a 6 p.m. match up with Louisville at Atkins Tennis Center.
Sunday's Results
No. 5 Notre Dame 7, No. 49 Illinois 0
Doubles:
1. Harkins/Wang (ILL) def. No. 2 Thompson.Thompson (ND); 8-4
2. No. 29 Buck/Tefft (ND) def. Knue/Meza Cuadra (ILL); 8-4
3. No. 49 Connelly/Stastny (ND) def. Dave/Qu (ILL); 8-3
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles:
1. No. 27 Catrina Thompson (ND) def. Macall Harkins (ILL); 6-4, 6-3
2. No. 32 Christian Thompson (ND) def. Momei Qu (ILL); 6-0, 6-3
3. Brook Buck (ND) def. Brianna Knue (IILL); 6-0, 6-2
4. Kelcy Tefft (ND) def. Emily Wang (ILL); 6-2, 6-4
5. Kristina Stastny (ND) def. Alejandra Meza Cuadra (ILL); 6-1, 6-0
6. Katie Potts (ND) def. Shivani Dave (ILL); 6-4, 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 6, 5 ,2, 1, 4
