Irish Sweep Doubleheader Against Bellarmine Sunday

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame women’s tennis went 2-1 over the past weekend, posting two wins over Bellarmine on Sunday following a loss to 17th-ranked Ohio State on Friday. Notre Dame improves to 9-1 on the season and 7-1 inside the Eck Tennis Pavilion.

The Irish opened up Sunday morning with a 7-0 shutout win. Notre Dame got a 6-1 win on No. 1 doubles from Akari Matsuno/Bianca Molnar to start off the day. Kate Bellia/Carrie Beckman clinched the early point for the Irish after a 6-3 win on No. 3 singles, as Notre Dame headed into singles play with a 1-0 advantage.

Matsuno, ranked No. 71 in the ITA Singles Rankings, made quick work at No. 2 singles, winning 6-1, 6-0 in straight sets. Bojana Pozder followed suit with a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles.

Beckman clinched the match for the Irish with a 6-1, 6-2 win on court three, while Bellia took No. 6 singles 6-4, 6-1 for the fifth Irish point. Bianca Molnar also secured a straight sets win, taking No. 4 singles 6-3, 6-1.

After winning the first set 6-0, Maria Olivia Castedo had to battle in the second set. The senior would prevail in a tiebreaking fashion to give Notre Dame straight set sweeps across the board and a perfect 7-0 win.

The Irish continued the momentum in the second match of the doubleheader. Matsuno/Rylie Hanford teamed up at No.2 doubles, earning a 6-2 win that shortly was followed by Beckman/Molnar 6-3 victory over at the top doubles slot. The Irish once again went into singles play with the early advantage.

Matsuno got her second singles win, but this time at No. 1 singles, taking it with ease 6-1, 6-0.

Beckman would go 6-0, 6-1 at No. 3 singles while Hanford’s 6-2, 6-2 decision clinched Notre Dame’s ninth victory of the season.

Both Molnar and Pozder finished out their respective matches. Molnar won court 5 with a 6-0, 6-1 outcome while Pozder took her match 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles. Notre Dame won the second match of the doubleheader 6-0.

Ohio State Recap

After starting the season 7-0, Notre Dame met its match Friday afternoon at the Eck Tennis Pavilion. The first ranked opponent the Irish has played this season, Ohio State won the doubles point early to set the tone. The Buckeyes controlled the pace of singles play as well, wining in straight sets from No. 1 to No. 5 singles.

However, Molnar pulled out her first ranked win of her career at No. 6 singles. After winning the first set but dropping the second set, the freshman showed a lot of poise during the tiebreak third set, battling 60th-ranked Audrey Spencer to the end. Molnar prevailed in a 10-7 tiebreaker for the win and a point on the scoreboard for Notre Dame.

The Irish will host Xavier on Sunday at 11 a.m. inside the Eck Tennis Pavilion. All admission to Notre Dame tennis matches is free.

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