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Friday, March 29, 2024
The Observer

Irish sweep Broncos to kick off spring season

No. 33 Notre Dame kicked off its 2016 campaign Wednesday night against Western Michigan, defeating the Broncos, 7-0, at Eck Tennis Pavilion.

The Irish (1-0) were led by senior and All-ACC performer Quinn Gleason, who came into the match ranked No. 57 in singles and No. 32 in doubles, alongside partner junior Monica Robinson. The doubles team of Robinson and Gleason is coming off a successful 2015 season in which they qualified for the NCAA championships and were ranked as high as No. 16 nationally at one point during the campaign. To begin the match and build upon their success from last year, Gleason and Robinson won at No. 1 doubles, 6-0.

Senior Quinn Gleason returns the ball in her 6-1, 6-0 victory over Western Michigan’s Olivia Meyers Wednesday at Eck Tennis Pavilion. The Irish swept the Broncos in all seven matches.
Senior Quinn Gleason returns the ball in her 6-1, 6-0 victory over Western Michigan’s Olivia Meyers Wednesday at Eck Tennis Pavilion. The Irish swept the Broncos in all seven matches.
Senior Quinn Gleason returns the ball in her 6-1, 6-0 victory over Western Michigan’s Olivia Meyers Wednesday at Eck Tennis Pavilion. The Irish swept the Broncos in all seven matches.


Following that victory, both Gleason and Robinson competed at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively. Gleason defeated Western Michigan’s Olivia Meyers at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-0, while Robinson won a tightly contested match, pulling out a 6-2, 5-7, 10-4 victory.

Other Irish players who were victorious in both singles and doubles were sophomores Allison Miller and Brooke Broda and junior Mary Closs. Miller and Broda teamed up at No. 2 doubles and won, 6-2. Miller had little trouble at No. 3 singles in a 6-0, 6-2 victory. Broda secured a win at No. 5 singles, 6-4, 6-4.

Closs and junior Jane Fennelly had a strong showing at No. 3 doubles, capturing a 6-4 win. Closs was triumphant in her No. 4 singles match as well, grinding her way to a 7-6, 6-3 win.

Senior Julie Vrabel completed the 7-0 sweep for the Irish at No. 6 singles, as she was victorious 6-3, 6-2.

This is the second consecutive year the Irish have defeated Western Michigan (2-1) to kick off the new year. To start the 2015 spring season, the Irish downed the Broncos, 6-1.

Next on the schedule, the Irish will compete in the ITA Kickoff Weekend tournament this coming weekend. The team will travel southwest to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where it is slated to take on undefeated and No. 12-ranked Oklahoma State. Following the match with the Cowboys, the Irish will remain in Stillwater and take on either No. 26 Northwestern or No. 27 Arizona State on Sunday.