Panthers Fall to Notre Dame, 6-1

Sunday, January 29

Pittsburgh, Pa.

10:00 AM

Pitt

Notre Dame

Panthers Fall to Notre Dame, 6-1

1/29/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

Jan. 29, 2017

Box Score

HARMARVILLE, Pa. - The Pitt tennis team moved to 1-1 on the season after dropping a 6-1 decision to ACC-foe Notre Dame Sunday afternoon at the Alpha Tennis and Fitness Center.

Redshirt senior Amber Washington was the lone Panther to earn a win on the day as she downed her opponent at No. 2 singles.

"Congratulations to Amber [Washington] on playing unbelievable and elite tennis today and getting a win in singles," head coach Alex Santos said. "In doubles, I think we could have done a better job. On court three, we were playing great tennis and executing the patterns, but on court two we weren't playing with the energy we needed and we didn't trust our weapons. Notre Dame forced us to play the way they wanted us to play and they won the most important point. In singles, we were competitive overall on every court but we still need to learn and understand from these moments."

At No. 1 doubles, Washington and junior Callie Frey dropped a 6-2 decision to Brooke Broda and Monica Robinson. The duo fell in the first game 1-0, came back to tie it 1-1, but would fall in the remaining games turning in the first doubles loss.

Playing No. 2 doubles, the duo of sophomore Gabriela Rezende and freshman Jovana Knezevic battled with Mary Closs and Allison Miller to a 6-3 loss. The Pitt tandem won the first game, but Notre Dame came back to win the next four. Rezende and Knezevic then captured a win, bringing the set score to 4-2 in favor of Notre Dame. Their Fighting Irish opponents claimed the next game, which was followed by a Pitt win, but Notre Dame sealed the match taking the final game and the doubles point.

Prior to the Fighting Irish clinching the doubles point, senior Audrey Ann Blakely and sophomore Clara Lucas were up 4-3 on court three but play was suspended once the point was won.

Moving to singles, Washington had another standout performance as she took down No. 92 Brooke Broda in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. The St. Paul, Minn., native struck first, taking the first game before Broda tied it 1-1. Washington then won two straight games to extend her lead, but Broda took the fifth to be within one at 3-2. Following that, Washington found momentum and took the next three games en route to a 6-2 win in the first set. In the second set, Washington once again jumped out to a 3-1 lead and held onto it until Broda won two straight games making it 5-3. However, Washington outlasted her fierce opponent in the final game to claim the set, 6-3.

The Panthers resume action Saturday, Feb. 4 as they host cross-town foe Duquesne for a 4 p.m. match-up at Alpha Tennis and Fitness Center.

Doubles

1. Brooke Broda/Monica Robinson (ND) def. Amber Washington/Callie Frey (UP) 6-2
2. Mary Closs/Allison Miller (ND) def. Gabriela Rezende/Jovana Knezevic (UP) 6-3
3. Jane Fennelly/Bess Waldram (ND) vs. Audrey Ann Blakely/Clara Lucas (UP) DNF

Singles
1. Monica Robinson (ND) def. Audrey Ann Blakely (UP) 6-2, 6-2
2. Amber Washington (UP) def. #92 Brooke Broda (ND) 6-2, 6-3
3. Allison Miller (ND) def. Gabriela Rezende (UP) 6-2, 7-5
4. Bess Waldram (ND) def. Jovana Knezevic (UP) 6-3, 6-1
5. Zoe Spence (ND) def. Callie Frey (UP) 7-5, 6-1
6. Jane Fennelly (ND) def. Clara Lucas (UP) 6-3, 6-2

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,1,4,5,6,3)