The No. 19 Irish (2-2) opened their home schedule with a 4-3 win over BYU (2-5) Tuesday in front of a large crowd at the Eck Tennis Pavilion.
Notre Dame got the ball rolling by taking the doubles point.
"We knew going into it that BYU was winning doubles points," Irish captain Brook Buck said. "So that point was crucial, and it got our momentum going."
After the pair of Cosmina Ciobanu and Colleen Rielley took their match 8-3, Buck and doubles teammate Kelcy Tefft sealed the doubles point for Notre Dame with an 8-5 victory. Buck and Tefft are now 4-0 for the dual season.
No. 89 Kali Krisik and Tefft kept the momentum going as each won handily in two-set singles victories to put the Irish ahead 3-0 for the match.
BYU appeared to be mounting a comeback as the Cougars' Anastasia Surkova upset No. 62 Ciobanu 6-2, 6-3, but Notre Dame responded.
The chance to seal the match fell to No. 88 Colleen Rielley, and the sophomore delivered with a hard-fought victory, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7).
"Colleen was the clincher," Buck said. "She had a close match, and she fought off five set points. She did well under pressure knowing we needed one more win to clinch the victory."
No. 64 Buck and No. 82 Katie Potts were both upset in long, three-set matches after the Irish already had the match wrapped up.
Buck said playing at home will be "a huge advantage" as the season goes on, Buck said.
The Irish were pleased with their overall effort but have no time to rest on their laurels.
"It was a good start to an intense week of tennis," Buck said.
The Irish now look to the National Team Indoors in Madison, Wisc. at the end of the week.
