Feb. 28, 2010

Box Score

By: Lindsey Williford, Media Relations Graduate Assistant

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The 13th-ranked University of Tennessee Lady Vol tennis team (6-4) concluded the non-conference portion of its schedule with a tough, 5-2, loss to No. 2 Notre Dame (10-1) Sunday afternoon at the Eck Tennis Pavilion in South Bend, Ind. Junior Rosalía Alda picked up the Lady Vols' lone singles victory of the day, recording her 13th overall win and sixth in dual-match play.

The Round Rock, Texas native defeated Chrissie McGaffigan in three sets. Alda won the first set 6-4, but McGaffigan countered by snagging the second stanza, 6-4, pushing the match into a tiebreaker. Alda came away with the 1-0 decision and contest victory at the third lineup position.

Prior to the Alda's triumph, UT put its first tally on the scoreboard by winning two of three doubles contests. Senior Caitlin Whoriskey and junior partner Maria Sorbello dropped only one game in their 8-1 defeat of Notre Dame's Kristy Frilling and Kristen Rafael. Alda combined with senior Zsófia Zubor to pull a come-from-behind triumph over Shannon Matthews and Chrissie McGaffigan. The 20th-rated tandem tied the match at eight games apiece, and then pulled away with the tiebreak to secure the contest victory, 9-8. Notre Dame won by forfeit at No. 3 doubles.

In singles play, Notre Dame opened with quick wins to give itself a lead it wouldn't lose. Court six was first to finish when the Orange and White's Jennifer Meredith was forced to retire her match against Rielley. No. 23 Frilling upset UT's seventh-ranked Whoriskey, 6-2, 6-0, at No. 1 singles to put the Irish up 2-1.

Notre Dame collected the next two points at the fifth and second roster spots. Rafael took out UT sophomore Katie Lee, 6-1, 6-1 and Matthews clinched the match for the Fighting Irish in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, over No. 37 Sorbello.

The Big Orange was able to keep the Irish from sweeping singles behind the strength of Alda's win but was unable prevail on court four. UT's Zubor dropped a heartbreaker to Cosmina Ciobanu, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

The Lady Vols will return home and move into Southeastern Conference action, when they host No. 46 Auburn at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 5 and No. 58 Alabama at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 7. Both competitions will be held in the Goodfriend Tennis Center on Tennessee's campus.

Live scoring for both contests will be available at www.UTLadyVols.com.

No. 7 Notre Dame 5, No. 13 Tennessee 2

Singles

1: No. 23 Kristy Frilling (ND) def. No. 7 Caitlin Whoriskey (UT) - 6-2, 6-0

2: Shannon Matthews (ND) def. No. 37 Maria Sorbello (UT) - 6-1, 6-4

3: Rosalía Alda (UT) def. Chrissie McGaffigan (ND) - 6-4, 4-6, 1-0

4: Cosmina Ciobanu (ND) def. Zsófia Zubor (UT) - 6-2, 4-6, 6-3

5: Kristen Rafael (ND) def. Katie Lee (UT) - 6-1, 6-1

6: Collen Rielley (ND) def. Jennifer Meredith (UT) - 6-2, 3-0: Won by retirement

Order of finish: (6, 1, 2, 5*, 3, 4)

Doubles

1: Caitlin Whoriskey/Maria Sorbello (UT) def. Kristy Frilling/Kristen Rafael (ND) - 8-1

2: Rosalía Alda/Zsófia Zubor (UT) def. Shannon Matthews/Chrissie McGaffigan (ND) - 9-8

3: Cosmina Ciobanu/Colleen Rielley (ND) - Won by forfeit

Order of finish: (3, 1, 2)

* Clinching point