TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Notre Dame women's tennis team began its drive for a sixth straight conference tournament title in fine fashion Friday, downing Marquette 4-0 in the quarterfinal round of the 2013 BIG EAST Championship at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.
The No. 21 Irish (15-8), the top overall seed in the tournament, swept the action at doubles to take a 1-0 match lead. Jennifer Keller and Chrissie McGaffigan got the Notre Dame lineup started with an 8-1 win over Ali Dawson and Aina Hernandez Soler of Marquette (12-12) at the first doubles court. Julie Sabacinski and Britney Sanders clinched the opening point at second doubles, downing Ana Pimienta and Erin Gebes by an identical 8-1 score.
Quinn Gleason and Katherine White did not finish their match with Rocio Diaz and Aleeza Kanner after Notre Dame earned the doubles point at the No. 2 court.
Gleason won her third consecutive singles match at the No. 3 court, defeating Hernandez Soler in straight sets. The Notre Dame freshman's 6-1, 6-1 victory gave the Irish a 2-0 team lead.
Kellner kept the momentum going at second singles, sweeping Gebes 6-2, 6-3 to extend the Irish advantage to 3-0.
No. 40 Sanders needed the full three frames at the No. 1 court against Pimenta, falling 6-2 in the second set after winning by the same margin in the first. Sanders claimed a 6-3 triumph in the final set to outlast Pimienta 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 and clinch the match for Notre Dame.
The Irish will face fourth-seeded Syracuse Saturday at a 9 a.m. in one of the two semifinal matches at the 2013 BIG EAST Championship.
No. 1 Notre Dame 4, No. 8 Marquette 0
2013 BIG EAST Women's Tennis Championship
April 19, 2013 USF Varsity Tennis Courts
Singles
1. No. 40 Britney Sanders (ND) def. Ana Pimienta (MU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 *
2. Jennifer Kellner (ND) def. Erin Gebes (MU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Quinn Gleason (ND) def. Aina Hernandez Soler (MU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Chrissie McGaffigan (ND) vs. Rocio Diaz (MU), unfinished
5. Katherine White (ND) vs. Ali Dawson, unfinished
6. Julie Sabacinski (ND) vs. Laia Hernandez Soler (MU), unfinished
Doubles
1. No. 55 Kellner/McGaffigan (ND) def. Dawson/A. Hernandez Soler (MU) 8-1*
2. No. 67 Sabacinski/Sanders (ND) def. Pimienta/Gebes (MU) 8-1
3. Gleason/White (ND) vs. Aleeza Kanner/Diaz (MU), unfinished
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
* deciding match
--ND--
