Irish look to jump in poll after 3-0 weekend
By STEVE KEPPEL
Sports Writer
It was a great weekend for Notre Dame women's tennis as they went 3-0 and will most likely move into the top 10 this week. The Irish lost only one team point as they defeated Virginia Tech 7-0 on Friday, eighth-ranked Wake Forest 5-0 on Saturday and North Carolina 6-1.
The weekend was once again highlighted by the play of Michelle Dasso as she improved her career record to 121-31, one victory shy of a record set just last year by Kelly Zalinski.
Dasso led the way for the Irish in No. 1 doubles and singles and did not lose a match the entire weekend. The third-ranked all-American is on a roll this spring after impressive performances at each tournament. Dasso also plays a key role in team competition.
"She's a huge asset to the team, she really gets us going and I don't think we would be the same without her," said Dasso's doubles partner, Becky Varnum.
Varnum, a junior, also played well this weekend. She went undefeated in both doubles and singles at the No. 2 spot behind Dasso.
After beating Virginia Tech on Friday, the Irish prepared to take on Wake Forest and the No. 1 player in the country Bea Bielick.
But, to Notre Dame's surprise, Beilick was out with bronchitis and the Demon Deacons had to forfeit matches at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles to start off.
Notre Dame once again rallied around the play of Dasso, as she won the last nine games of the No. 1 singles match and defeated sixth-ranked Janet Bergman 6-1, 6-0.
Kimberly Guy also continued her solid play, as she and Katie Cunha wrapped up the doubles point with an 8-5 decision over Wake Forest's Jackie Houston and Aimee Smith and Guy later clinched the match for the Irish after a win at No. 5 singles over Smith.
"They [Wake Forest] had to default two matches so we were up 2-0 right away," said junior Becky Varnum. "Everyone just played awesome and Michelle destroyed Janet Bergman at No. 1 singles."
"We were ready to play and were really inspired to go against the eighth ranked team in the country."
The win over the Demon Deacons marks the highest ranked team the Irish have defeated since 1996, when they beat fifth-ranked Texas 5-4. The Irish improve to 3-1 against the Demon Deacons, winning three of the last four.
After their impressive victory on Saturday, the Irish then took on a solid North Carolina team led by No. 11 Marlene Mejia.
North Carolina came out tough and surprised the Notre Dame women by winning the doubles point, beating Cunha-Guy and Green-Vaughan, both 8-6.
The Irish rallied, however, sweeping the singles matches and winning 6-1. The singles play was highlighted by a 6-0, 6-1 thrashing of Mejia courtesy of Dasso and an important victory by Guy who improved to 18-3 in singles matches this year.
"We were a little bit down after we lost the doubles point but we didn't let it ruin the rest of the match," saidVarnum who defeated Kate Pinchbeck 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6) in a tough three-set tiebreaker.
"Everyone just fought so hard, whether they were winning or losing, and we ended up playing really well."
With the three victories this weekend, the Irish have won five in a row and are set to break into the top 10 before they travel to Wisconsin for the National Indoor Team Championships next Thursday.
"I think we will be in the top 10," said Varnum, "but most importantly we will get a good seed next weekend at the National Indoors. Our goal is to make it past the second round this year."
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, February 13, 2001
