Another tennis title for Vaez

St. Ursula's Sarah Edwards, who teamed with fellow freshman Mattie Eccleston, prevented a Notre Dame finals sweep with a victory at No. 1 doubles yesterday at Jermain Park.

Notre Dame senior Neela Vaez, the defending Division I state singles champion, earned her third City League championship with a 6-0, 6-0 win in the final. She is 26-0 this season.

Notre Dame senior Neela Vaez captured her third straight No. 1 singles championship by taking a 6-0, 6-0 victory over St. Ursula senior Kelly O'Connell in the City League tennis tournament at Jermain Park.

Vaez, the defending Division I state champion, helped the Eagles win their third title in a row. She improved her season record to 26-0.

Notre Dame, which had not lost any matches during regular-season CL play, in singles or doubles, won four of the five

titles yesterday. The Eagles posted 50 team points to 46 for runner-up St. Ursula. Central Catholic placed third at 34 points, edging Clay (32).

Only the St. Ursula freshmen duo of Sarah Edwards and Mattie Eccleston prevented a Notre Dame sweep. They avenged an earlier league loss to the ND sister team of senior Radhika Mehta and sophomore Madhuri Mehta by taking a 6-3, 6-1 win in the No. 1 doubles final.

St. Ursula's Sarah Edwards, who teamed with fellow freshman Mattie Eccleston, prevented a Notre Dame finals sweep with a victory at No. 1 doubles yesterday at Jermain Park.

Joining teammate Vaez with titles were sophomore Tara Majdalani (20-0), who defeated SUA junior Melissa Leonard 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 2 singles final; sophomore Meredith Morse (20-0), who beat Arrows sophomore Alexa Davis 6-1, 6-1 in No. 3 singles; and the senior-sophomore team of Alex Fournier and Heather Jorgensen (16-1), who won 7-5, 6-2 over St. Ursula senior Caitlyn Masters and freshman Morgan Bechtel in the No. 2 doubles final.

"It's very important to win the City League title," said fifth-year Notre Dame coach Bob Krueger. "Next to winning a state title, the recognition for winning the City is the best it gets. I wouldn't turn down either one of them.

"The girls played well, and we had a few real close matches. What more can you say about Neela? She made it look easy. She's on cruise control right now. She's getting ready for the [state] tournament."

Notre Dame begins that tourney at the sectional Thursday and Saturday at Jermain. There will also be D-I sectional competition at Jermain on Friday. Play all three days begins at 9 a.m. The Eagles also have a district semifinal matchup with St. Ursula in the state team tournament bracket at Jermain at 4 p.m. Friday.