April 21, 2007

TAMPA, Fla. - For the second time in less than a week, the no. 2-ranked Notre Dame proved to be too much for the Marquette women's tennis team as the top-seeded Irish dropped the fifth-seeded Golden Eagles 4-0 in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament. The Irish will look for their eighth BIG EAST championship Sunday afternoon at Noon ET against second-seeded USF, while the Golden Eagles will play Louisville for third place at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts also at Noon ET.

The Irish got hot early claiming the doubles point and the early lead. The no. 1 doubles tandem of freshman Kylie Moore and junior Maria Calbeto fell first to Christian and Catrina Thompson, 8-1. Brook Buck and Kelcy Tefft took down junior Shannon Brown and freshman Elly Strother at no. 2 doubles, 8-2, to secure the double point.

In singles play, Brown and Moore had matching scores and were the first and second ones off the court Saturday afternoon. Brown was defeated 6-1, 6-0 by Cosmina Ciobanu at no. 5, while Moore fell 6-1, 6-0 to Catrina Thompson at the top slot.

Colleen Rielley clinched the match for the Irish. She upended Calbeto at no. 3 singles, 6-0, 6-4.

#2 Notre Dame 4, Marquette 0
BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals

Singles
1. Catrina Thompson (ND) def Kylie Moore (MU); 6-1, 6-0
2. Christian Thompson (ND) led Erin Watkins (MU); 6-0, 4-1
3. Colleen Rielley (ND) def Maria Calbeto (MU); 6-0-6-4
4. Kelcy Tefft (ND) led Robin Metzler (MU); 6-2, 4-0
5. Cosmina Ciobanu (ND) def. Shannon Brown (MU); 6-0, 6-1
6. Katie Potts (ND) led Elly Strother (MU); 6-2, 3-3

Doubles
1. Thompson/Thompson (ND) def. Calbeto/Moore (MU); 8-1
2. Buck/Tefft (ND) def Brown/Strother (MU); 8-2
3. Ciobanu/Kali Krisik (ND) led Francina Bonnelly/Watkins (MU); 5-3