Jan. 24, 2010
MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin women’s tennis team finished off its three game homestand on Sunday falling to No. 6 Notre Dame 7-0. The Badgers didn’t make it easy for the top ranked team though coming back strong in all but one matchup in the second sets of singles play.
“I think we played much better than the last time we played Notre Dame,” said head coach Brian Fleishman. “I think we competed well at all our spots and know now what we need to work on for the next two weeks before we go down south to the ACC swing.”
The Fighting Irish came out strong quickly winning the doubles No. 2 slot with Cosmina Ciobanu and Christine McGaffigan grabbing the win over UW’s Angela Chupa and Aleksandra Markovic. Freshmen Hannah Berner and Kathleen Saltarelli challenged the No. 12-ranked duo of Kristy Frilling and Kali Krisik in the No. 1 slot coming back from a 6-2 deficit but ultimately falling 8-4. The win brought the Irish to a 1-0 lead going into singles.
With the doubles point already decided, Jessica Seyferth and Alaina Trgovich did not give up at No. 3 doubles. The Badgers pulled out an 8-6 victory for UW's lone win of the day.
Notre Dame went up 2-0 after the No. 30-ranked Frilling defeated Katya Mirnova in the No. 1 singles spot. The Badgers also fell in the Nos. 2 and 4 slots, with Berner and Saltarelli, respectively
The remaining spots pushed the Irish as Markovic took McGaffigan to three sets in the No. 3 spot. Trgovich fought a tiebreak in her second set in the No. 5 spot but fell 7-6 (6), and Seyferth challenged Notre Dame’s Colleen Rielley to two tiebreaks to take the game to a third set where she eventually dropped the match.
In exhibition play, Wisconsin’s Lauren Gruber fell to Kristen Rafael, 6-4, 6-3, and Chupa defeated Denise Ellison 6-0, 6-0.
“I think we’re still trying to play around with our lineup. We don’t really know who’s going to be playing where,” said Fleishman. “I think they’re starting to find out that they need to perform on game day and they have to compete a little bit harder and fight a little bit harder. I think they realize now when they put that uniform on they need to go out there and play.”
The Badgers have next weekend off before traveling to North Carolina where they will face off against North Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. and North Carolina State on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m.
Julie McKay, UW Athletic Communications
Tennis Match Results
Notre Dame vs Wisconsin
Jan 24, 2010 at Madison, Wis.
(Nielsen Tennis Stadium)
#6 Notre Dame 7, Wisconsin 0
Singles competition
1. #30 Kristy Frilling (ND) def. Katya Mirnova (WIS) 6-4, 6-1
2. Shannon Mathews (ND) def. Hannah Berner (WIS) 6-1, 6-3
3. Christine McGaffigan (ND) def. Aleksandra Markovic (WIS) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
4. Kali Krisik (ND) def. Kathleen Saltarelli (WIS) 6-2, 6-4
5. Cosmina Ciobanu (ND) def. Alaina Trgovich (WIS) 6-3, 7-6 (6), 1-0 (7)
6. Colleen Rielley (ND) def. Jessica Seyferth (WIS) 7-6 (6), 6-7 (1), 1-0 (12)
Doubles competition
1. #12 Kristy Frilling/Kali Krisik (ND) def. Hannah Berner/Kathleen Saltarelli (WIS) 8-4
2. Cosmina Ciobanu/Christine McGaffigan (ND) def. Angela Chupa/Aleksandra Markovic (WIS) 8-2
3. Alaina Trgovich/Jessica Seyferth (WIS) def. Shannon Mathews/Colleen Rielley (ND) 8-6
Match Notes:
Notre Dame 2-0; National ranking #6
Wisconsin 2-2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,4,2,3,6,5)
