What a difference.The No. 26 Irish defeated No. 20 Brigham Young 6-1 Friday to extend their winning streak to five matches. "It was exciting," sophomore Kristina Stastny said. "We really played well and I think this weekend proved that we have the potential to be a top-15 team."In building on their own success this spring, the Irish broke the Cougars' four-match winning streak. "This weekend was definitely a confidence booster," sophomore Lauren Connelly said. "It showed us that we can play with any team."Throughout the season, coach Jay Louderback has emphasized the importance of winning the doubles point each match. In the season-opening match against Michigan, the Irish lost the doubles point and ended up losing the match 4-3. The Irish proved this point resoundingly, first earning the doubles point and then claiming five of the six singles matches for the win. No. 39 Lauren Connelly and senior Alicia Salas came off the courts first with an 8-4 defeat of the Cougars' Sofia Holden and Lauren Jones. The duo is now 7-0 in dual matches and 13-2 overall. In the clinching win for the Irish, freshmen Catrina and Christian Thompson edged out Hadley McFarlane and Barbora Zahnova 8-5. Connelly remained undefeated this season contributing the first win in singles 6-1, 6-0 against Olga Boulytcheva at No. 4 singles. "Lauren has been playing amazing tennis this spring," Stastny said. Stastny followed Connelly's lead, besting McFarlane 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4 singles. Salas, ranked No. 14 in singles, ensured an Irish victory, with a clinching win at No. 1 singles over No. 43 Barbora Zahnova 6-3, 6-3."Alicia has really led by example," Stastny said. "She's really on a roll this spring."At No. 3 singles, Catrina Thompson added to the team's success, knocking off Jones 6-3, 6-4. Christian Thompson sealed the team's fate in the final match, edging out Holden in a tiebreaker 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6) at No. 2. The Irish are set to host No. 36 Indiana Sunday at 1 p.m.
