SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame Women’s tennis team completed a perfect 4-0 weekend inside Eck Tennis Pavilion to start the 2023 season this past weekend. The Fighting Irish earned dual match victories over Michigan State and Butler on Saturday, before sweeping Xavier and UIC Sunday. Notre Dame lost just three points all weekend, giving up one to Butler and falling in doubles and in one singles match with UIC.
The weekend started Saturday afternoon as the Irish welcomed the Michigan State Spartans to town. Notre Dame quickly got out to an early lead, handling the doubles event with wins from Julia Andreach and Carrie Beckman (6-0) at No. 3, and Page Freeman and Bojana Pozder notched a 6-3 win at No. 1. For good measure, Rylie Hanford and Yashna Yellayi added a 6-4 win at No. 2.
Singles play started up and Notre Dame took care of business, winning all six matches. Freeman, Andreach, Nibi Ghosh and Yellayi handled their matches in straight sets in flights 1-4, respectively. Pozder needed a third set at No. 5 for the point before Akari Matsuno earned a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 6.
The nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader saw a similar result in favor of the Irish. In doubles, Hanford and Yellayi earned a 6-0 win at No. 2, before Maria Olivia Castedo and Matsuno teamed for a 6-2 win at No. 3 to secure the point.
Ghosh earned a straight set victory playing No. 1 singles for the first time this season. Pozder and Hanford each went three sets at No. 2 and No. 3, with Pozder edging her opponent 6-7, 6-1, 6-0. Beckman and Meghan Coleman added straight set wins at No. 4 and No. 5 and Alex Kuo added a three-set win at No. 6 to round out the final match.
The winning momentum stayed on the Irish side overnight as Notre Dame earned a 7-0 win over the visiting Xavier Musketeers Sunday afternoon. The doubles point when the way of the Irish after Andreach and Beckman earned a quick 6-1 win at No. 3. Yellayi and Hanford rallied for a 7-6 (3) win at No. 2 to secure the point as the top flight went unfinished.
Singles action saw five of the six flights finish in straight sets. Freeman and Andreach took care of business at No. 1 and No. 2. Yellayi, Pozder and Matsuno were straight set winners at flights 4-6, respectively. Ghosh earned a three-set win over Abby Nugent to complete the sweep.
Notre Dame lost the doubles point for the first time this season in the final match of the weekend. Pozder and Castedo dropped No. 2 and Andreach and Beckman…