University of South Florida
Notre Dame
Bulls Fall 4-2 to Notre Dame in BIG EAST Final
May 01, 2011 | Women's Tennis
The University of South Florida women's tennis team rallied from a 3-0 deficit but ultimately fell 4-2 to Notre Dame in the BIG EAST championship match Sunday at the Courtney Tennis Center on the campus of the Fighting Irish. The Bulls finish the regular season with an 11-11 mark and as the conference runner up or champion for the fourth time in six seasons.
“We fought our way back into it in singles, and we had a chance to take the doubles point,” USF head coach Agustin Moreno said. “It didn't happen for us, but we have to move forward and get ready for the NCAA tournament.”
Ecaterina Vasenina's contest with Shannon Matthews decided the match. The sophomore dropped her match 6-4, 7-5 after fighting off two earlier match points.
The Bulls found themselves back in a tight match thanks to wins from Irene Rehberger at No. 1 and Janette Bejlkova at No. 3. Rehberger defeated Kristy Frilling 7-5, 6-3, and Bejlkova downed Jennifer Kellner, 6-4 6-4.
Loreto Alonso Martinez was the first off the courts, dropping her match with Kristen Rafael at No. 4, 6-0, 6-0. The Fighting Irish got their third point when Alessandra Bonte fell to Chrissie McGaffigan, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 5.
Kate Parker's contest with Julie Sabacinski did not finish. The two were in a second set tiebreak when the match concluded.
The Bulls had leads in two of three doubles matches, but couldn't hang on for victories. After Parker and Bonte fell 8-3 to Kellner and Sabacinski at No. 3, Rehberger and Vasenina dropped their set to McGaffigan and Rafael, 8-6, at No. 2. The No. 1 match between the
Martinez/Bejlkova pairing and the Frilling/Matthews duo went unfinished because the point had been decided. The set was tied 6-6 at the time.
USF will learn whether or not it has earned a bid to the NCAA Championships on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET
Notre Dame 4, USF 2
BIG EAST Championship
South Bend, Ind.
May 1, 2011
Doubles
1. Loreto Alonso Martinez/Janette Bejlkova (USF) and Kristy Frilling/Shannon Mathews, 6-6 Unf
2. Chrissie McGaffigan/Kristen Rafael (UND) def. Irene Rehberger / Ecaterina Vasenina (USF), 8-6
3. Jennifer Kellner / Julie Sabacinski (UND) def. Alessandra Bonte / Kate Parker (USF) , 8-3
Order of Finish:
3, 2, 1
Singles
1. Irene Rehberger (USF) def. Kristy Frilling (UND), 7-5, 6-3
2. Shannon Matthews (UND) def. Ecaterina Vasenina (USF), 6-4, 7-5
3. Janette Bejlkova (USF) def. Jennifer Kellner (ND), 6-4, 6-4
4. Kristen Rafael (UND) def. Loreto Alonso Martinez (USF), 6-0, 6-0
5. Chrissie McGaffigan (UND) def. Alessandra Bonte (USF), 6-4, 6-3
6. Kate Parker (USF) and Julie Sabacinski (UND), 6-1, 6-6
Order of Finish:
4, 5, 1, 3, 2
