Feb. 20, 2010
Box Score
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - In its first action in just under two weeks, the No. 31 Illini women's tennis team (3-5) dropped a 5-2 decision at No. 17 Notre Dame (6-1) Saturday afternoon. Senior Megan Fudge tallied her fourth straight victory of the season, while junior Leigh Finnegan returned for her first singles match since Jan. 30 and picked up her first win of the spring season.
"It was great to have Leigh back in the lineup," head coach Michelle Dasso said. "And Megan ended the day on a high note and battled as usual. She really makes opponents work for their points. It's disappointing to lose another close match. We'll re-evaluate and work on fixing some things. We need to get tougher and work harder, because we don't want to keep losing these close matches."
The Irish took a 1-0 advantage after sweeping all three doubles matches, before Finnegan evened the score with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Kristen Rafael. Notre Dame bounced back to claim the next four matches, however, including at the No. 4 position as No. 114 Kali Krisik snapped junior Marisa Lambropoulos' seven-match winning streak, 6-7, 7-5, 6-3. Fudge concluded the day with a 7-6, 4-6, 1-0 win over Shannon Mathews.
The Illini return to Atkins Tennis Center next Friday, Feb. 26 to host No. 1 Northwestern at 6 p.m.
Match Results
#17 Notre Dame 5, #31 Illinois 2
Singles
1. #23 Kristy Frilling (ND) def. #85 Rachael White (UI) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
2. Megan Fudge (UI) def. Shannon Mathews (ND) 7-6, 4-6, 1-0
3. Chrissie McGaffigan (ND) def. Chelcie Abajian (UI) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
4. #114 Kali Krisik (ND) def. Marisa Lambropoulos (UI) 6-7, 7-5, 6-3
5. Cosmina Ciobanu (ND) def. Breanne Smutko (UI) 7-6, 6-4
6. Leigh Finnegan (UI) def. Kristen Rafael (ND) 6-1, 6-4
Order of finish: 6,1,5,3,4,2
Doubles
1. #8 Frilling/Krisik (ND) def. Abajian/Finnegan (UI) 8-5
2. Mathews/McGaffigan (ND) def. Lambropoulos/White (UI) 8-5
3. Ciobanu/Rielley (ND) def. Fudge/Smutko (UI) 8-3
Order of finish: 3,2,1
