Notre Dame is set to host conference rival Clemson on Friday afternoon at Eck Tennis Pavilion at 3:30 p.m., looking to rebound from a loss to No. 8 Duke.
Irish head coach Jay Louderback said he liked the way his team performed last weekend against the Blue Devils (15-4, 8-2 ACC) and expressed the need for his team to play well in their final matches before the upcoming ACC championships.
“We competed well last weekend and we need to keep that up,” Louderback said. “Leading in to the ACC championships, every match is important and we need the entire team to keep working toward each match.”
Irish junior Monica Robinson returns a serve during Notre Dame’s 6-1 victory over Indiana at Eck Tennis Pavilion on Feb. 20. Robinson lost 6-3, 6-3 in singles competition against Duke last weekend.
Irish junior Monica Robinson returns a serve during Notre Dame’s 6-1 victory over Indiana at Eck Tennis Pavilion on Feb. 20. Robinson lost 6-3, 6-3 in singles competition against Duke last weekend.
The Irish (10-9, 4-6 ACC) were last in action on Sunday when they suffered a 4-1 loss in Durham, North Carolina. In the singles competition that day, sophomore Brooke Broda emerged as the victor in her match 6-2, 7-6(3) on court No. 5. However, senior Quinn Gleason did not find the same success, losing 7-6, 6-3, on court No. 1. Junior Monica Robinson had the same result, suffering a 6-3, 6-3 loss on court No. 2, while sophomore Allison Miller was bested 6-3, 6-4 on court No. 3. In a close match, junior Mary Closs was victorious in her first set 7-6(5) before falling in the second set 6-4. She was losing 4-0 in the third and deciding set, when the match was discontinued on court No. 4. Junior Jane Fennelly won her first two sets, 6-4 and 5-3, before her match was discontinued on court No. 6.
In doubles competition, the match between the doubles team of Gleason and Robinson and their opponents, Duke senior Beatrice Capra and and freshman Ellyse Hamlin, ended 4-4 on court No. 1. Closs and senior Julie Vrabel were shut out 6-0 on court No. 2, while Broda and Miller suffered a 6-4 loss on court No. 3.
Looking ahead, three of the Irish’s last four regular season matches will take place at their home court, Eck Tennis Pavilion. Louderback said he thinks playing the majority of their final games at home will be good for his team, considering how its earlier schedule has been so road heavy.
“Finishing with three of our last four matches at home will be key for us,” Louderback said. “We have been on the road quite a bit in the past few weeks and having the chance to play at home comes at a great time.”
Clemson (8-7, 6-4 ACC) is coming off of a 7-0 loss against No. 7 Miami, but has won three of its last five games. Some notable wins for the Tigers this season has been victories over Louisville, North Carolina State and Wake Forest.
After the contest against the Tigers, the Irish will welcome No. 17 Georgia Tech (13-6, 8-2 ACC). The Yellow Jackets will take on Louisville on Friday before traveling to South Bend for Sunday’s matchup with the Irish. The last time the Yellow Jackets were in action was last Sunday, when they defeated No. 12 Virginia 4-3, with their season also including wins over Clemson, Syracuse and Tennessee.
Louderback said the mood of his team is upbeat and he believes his athletes will be ready to play two matches in three days.
“We have had really good, positive practices this week and I think we will be ready,” Louderback said.
The Irish and the Tigers will square off at 3:30 p.m. Friday, while the matchup with the Yellow Jackets will take place at 11 a.m. Sunday.
