University of South Florida
Notre Dame
Bulls Can't Pull off Upset Over No. 4 Irish
March 11, 2009 | Women's Tennis
TAMPA - Looking to win consecutive matches for the first time in the 2009 season, the University of South Florida women's tennis team renewed what has become quite a BIG EAST rivalry as the fourth ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish came to the USF Varsity Tennis courts Wednesday afternoon for a dual match.
Unlike Sunday's match against No. 35 Ohio State, an upset would not be in the cards as the Irish took control early and would not relinquish it in a 5-2 victory. Despite noting Notre Dame clinching the match 4-0 early, the Bulls would not go down without a fight as senior Iciri Rai and sophomore Irene Rehberger would pull of a pair upsets over ranked players.
The Bulls entered singles action down, 1-0, as the Irish swept all three doubles matches, the Bulls would pick up two impressive singles victories from their No. 3 and No. 1 positions. The Irish singles line-up featured three ITA ranked players.
Rai would give the Bulls their first point of the by knocking No. 114 Kristin Rafael in straight sets 5-2, 7-5 to make the score 4-1. Rai has now won four of her last five matches. The win also marks the first of her career against a ranked opponent.
The Bulls second point of the afternoon came from the No. 1 position as Rehberger continues to impress since making her debut three matches ago. Rehberger won her third consectutive match and as she defeated No. 31 Kelcy Tefft in a three set super tiebreaker. Rehberger won the first set, 6-4, then fell in second, 7-5, than claimed the super tie-break, 10-5, to finish off the upset and push her recordd to 3-1 on the season.
If history can tell us anything, the Bulls will likely have another shot at the Irish in the BIG EAST Tournament which will be hosted at USF, April 16-19. The Bulls have met the Irish in the BIG EAST Championships the last three seasons since joining the BIG EAST in 2006.
Now 2-8 on the season, the Bulls will turn their focus to Penn State, who will visit the USF Varsity Tennis Courts on Friday, March 13 at 2 p.m.
Notre Dame 5, USF 2
March 11, 2009
USF Varsity Tennis Court-Tampa, Fla.
Doubles
1. Frilling / Teft def. Irene Rehberger/Lauren Shumate (USF)? 8-4
2. Ciabanu/ Trisik def. Jessica Zok/ Allyn Mueller (USF)? 8-4
3. Mathews/ Rielly def. Natalia Guevara/ Iciri Rai(USF)- 8-3
Finish Order- 3, 2, 1
Singles
1. Irene Rehberger (USF) def. Teft- 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (10-5)
2. No. 55 Frilling def. Jessica Zok (USF) 5-2, 6-0
3. Iciri Rai (USF) def. No.114 Rafael 6-2, 7-5
4. Ciubanu def. Natalia Guevara (USF) 6-0, 6-1
5. Mathews def. Allyn Mueller (USF) 6-2, 6-3
6. Trisik def. Lauren Shumate (USF) 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-3)
Finish Order-2, 5, 4, 3, 6,1
