Looking Forward...BIG EAST Women's Tennis
6/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S TENNIS
BIG EAST Tennis
CHICAGO - This is the 12th in a series that takes an inside look at the future of DePaul athletics in the BIG EAST Conference. The BIG EAST, headquartered in Providence, R.I., celebrated its 25th anniversary during the 2003-04 season and moved forward in 2004-05 with the addition of five new members poised to join the league this summer.
On July 1, DePaul University joins the University of Cincinnati, University of Louisville, Marquette University and the University of South Florida as new members of the BIG EAST Conference. The league membership in 2005-06 includes the five new members joining the University of Connecticut, Georgetown University, University of Notre Dame, University of Pittsburgh, Providence College, Rutgers University, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Syracuse University, Villanova University and the University of West Virginia.
A Preview of BIG EAST Women’s Tennis
The BIG EAST is entering its 11th year of team championships in 2005. Prior to the change, the event was a flighted singles championship, with the women competing in the fall and the men holding their matches in the spring. Former BIG EAST member Miami leads the way with eight team titles while current member Notre Dame has claimed six tennis championships.
The 2005 Championships were a three-day event scheduled for April 21-23. Matches took place at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla. USF will enter the league beginning with the 2005-06 season. Six men’s and six women’s squads competed in the team-championship format. The team winners each receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.
The Notre Dame women’s tennis team defeated Syracuse, 4-0, to claim the 2005 BIG EAST Tennis Championship title and earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. The Irish also won the title in 2003, giving them championships in two of the last three seasons. The Orange, the No. 3 seed, made their first appearance in the championship final since 1995.
In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Notre Dame defeated Iowa, 4-1, before falling to Northwestern, 4-0, in the second round. Individually, the doubles duo of Catrina and Christian Thompson of Notre Dame advanced to the round of 16 before losing to TCU's Ana Cetnik and Story Tweedie-Yates.
Last Five BIG EAST Women's Tennis Champions
| 2005 | Notre Dame |
| 2004 | Miami |
| 2003 | Notre Dame |
| 2002 | Miami |
| 2001 | Notre Dame |
2005 BIG EAST Championship Results
1. Notre Dame
2. Syracuse
3. St. John's
4. Boston College
Championship Match
Notre Dame 4, Rutgers 0
Consolation Match
St. John's 4, Boston College 0