Xavier University Athletics
Sunday, February 1
South Bend, Ind.
1 PM
Xavier University
1
at
6
Notre Dame
Women's Tennis Drops Season Opener at Notre Dame
02.01.26 | Women's Tennis
Musketeers head to East Lansing to face Michigan State, Gonzaga next weekend
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Xavier women's tennis opened up the 2026 spring dual season on Sunday afternoon at Notre Dame, falling 6-1 to the Fighting Irish at ND's Eck Tennis Pavillion.
Next week, Xavier travels to East Lansing, Mich., to take part in a pair of matches, starting with Michigan State on Friday, Feb. 6, set for a 4:00 p.m. start. Xavier returns to the MSU Indoor Tennis Center to face Gonzaga on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 1:00 p.m.
In doubles play, Notre Dame picked up the first decision on the No. 2 court over Ella DeFord and Madeleine Rexroat, 6-1, then clinched the point on the No. 3 court against Natalie Smitek and Ellie Brotherton.
The first singles decision came on the No. 1 court, with Abby Nugent falling to No. 58 Bianca Molnar, 6-1, 6-2, and a 6-1, 6-4 win over Natalie Smitek on the No. 4 court made it a 3-0 lead for the Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-1 win on the No. 6 court against Abigail Siminski. After the match was decided ND picked up wins on the No. 2 court, 6-2, 6-2, against Madeleine Rexroat, and on the No. 3 court, 6-2, 6-3, against Ella DeFord to take a 6-0 lead.
In the final singles decision, Clara Owen came back from a 6-3 loss in the first set to take a 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-5) win in No. 5 singles to set the final score at 6-1.
Next week, Xavier travels to East Lansing, Mich., to take part in a pair of matches, starting with Michigan State on Friday, Feb. 6, set for a 4:00 p.m. start. Xavier returns to the MSU Indoor Tennis Center to face Gonzaga on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 1:00 p.m.
The Match
In doubles play, Notre Dame picked up the first decision on the No. 2 court over Ella DeFord and Madeleine Rexroat, 6-1, then clinched the point on the No. 3 court against Natalie Smitek and Ellie Brotherton.
The first singles decision came on the No. 1 court, with Abby Nugent falling to No. 58 Bianca Molnar, 6-1, 6-2, and a 6-1, 6-4 win over Natalie Smitek on the No. 4 court made it a 3-0 lead for the Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-1 win on the No. 6 court against Abigail Siminski. After the match was decided ND picked up wins on the No. 2 court, 6-2, 6-2, against Madeleine Rexroat, and on the No. 3 court, 6-2, 6-3, against Ella DeFord to take a 6-0 lead.
In the final singles decision, Clara Owen came back from a 6-3 loss in the first set to take a 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-5) win in No. 5 singles to set the final score at 6-1.
Results
Doubles
- Molnar/Holdo (ND) vs. Abby Nugent/Clara Owen 6-5 uf
- Matsuno/Van Zyl (ND) def. Ella DeFord/Madeleine Rexroat 6-1
- Vryland/Kovalcik (ND) def. Natalie Smitek/Ellie Brotherton 7-5
Singles
- #58 Bianca Molnar (ND) def. Abby Nugent 6-1, 6-2
- Akari Matsuno (ND) def. Madeleine Rexroat 6-2, 6-2
- Sophia Holod (ND) def. Ella DeFord 6-2, 6-3
- Rylie Hanford (ND) def. Natalie Smitek 6-1, 6-4
- Clara Owen def. Mari-Louise Van Zyl (ND) 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-5)
- Jessica Kovalcik (ND) def. Abigail Siminski 6-1, 6-1
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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