Irish sweep Jayhawks 9-0 after 9-day layoff
By KEVIN BERCHOU
Sports Writer
After a nine-day layoff, the Notre Dame women's tennis team was eager to return to play Monday, and return they did, blasting the overwhelmed Kansas Jayhawks 9-0 at the Eck Tennis Pavillion.
The Irish came out firing on all cylinders, and from the match's onset it was clear the Jayhawks were an endangered species.
"Everyone played well," junior star Michelle Dasso said. "We were all eager to get out there and play."
It was Dasso that gave the Irish the lead they would never relinquish. She dismantled Jayhawk Brooke Chiller in straight sets, setting an emphatic tone for the rest of the match. On this day there was no way the Irish were going to lose.
Sophomore Becky Varnum and senior Kelly Zalinksi followed their teammate's sterling example with strong play of their own, as they netted victories at No. 2 and No. 3 singles respectively. Zalinski saw her match stretched to a third set, the only time all day Notre Dame would go to three. Zalinski, however, recorded yet another singles win and moving one step closer to the school record for career singles wins.
With the match clinched after singles play, head coach Jay Louderback decided to do some experimenting with his doubles pairings.
Louderback chose to play Kimberly Dasso with Sarah Scaringe at No. 3 doubles. The move was unexpected, as Guy had been sidelined for over a month with a wrist injury and was not thought to be ready to compete. Having the win already in hand, Louderback saw a great opportunity to give Guy, one of the squad's best doubles players, a chance to work her way back in to the mix.
"She looked great out there," Dasso noted. "She's fine to practice, and she didn't have any pain. The only thing is, she can't hit a two-handed backhand."
Guy was apparently just fine, as she teamed with Scaringe for an 8-6 win.
Dasso and Varnum notched an easy win at No. 1 doubles, while Zalinski and sophomore Nina Vaughan were victorious at No. 2 doubles.
Having gotten back on track with one of their best performances of the season, the Irish anticipate a tough match when they attempt to tame the Wolverines of Michigan Wednesday.
The Wolverines have lacked bite this season, posting a record of just 6-5, but are come off their first shutout of the season, a 7-0 blanking of the Michigan State Spartans. The win was the Wolverines' first in the Big Ten.
"It'll be a tough match," Dasso said. "We play them every year and it's always close. It'll be a little more important because it's a regional match."
Michigan boasts solid singles play, headed by Brooke Hart and Danielle Lund.
"Their singles are good," Dasso noted. "It's probably their strength."
Though the Wolverines are strong in one-on-one matches, the Irish will likely still have an advantage. Dasso and Varnum have been playing well of late.
The Irish should see a noticeable upswing in their doubles play. The return of Guy, even at partial strength, moves to stabilize a doubles lineup that is desperately looking to regain its early season form.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, March 28, 2000
