10-Seed Irish Survive & Advance With 4-3 Win vs. 7-Seed Clemson

Will face 2-Seed UNC on Friday at 6 p.m. ET

Apr. 17, 2026 at 1:35am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a women's tennis match, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the dynamic action and energy of the competition.The Fighting Irish's thrilling comeback victory over Clemson showcases the team's determination and resilience on the court.Cary Today

The 10th-seeded Notre Dame women's tennis squad fought back from a 1-3 deficit to defeat 7th-seeded Clemson 4-3 and advance to the Quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. Sophomore Bianca Molnar clinched the victory on court one in three sets.

Why it matters

This marks the third time the Irish have reached the quarterfinal round of the ACC Tournament, proving their resilience and ability to overcome adversity against a higher-ranked opponent.

The details

Despite an early 1-0 lead after winning the doubles point, the Irish soon found themselves down 1-3 as Clemson won courts four, five and three in straight sets. However, the Irish fought back, with Jessica Kovalcik, Akari Matsuno, and Bianca Molnar winning their singles matches to clinch the 4-3 victory.

  • The two teams met earlier in the season in South Carolina, with ND winning the doubles point but ultimately falling 1-4 in the match.
  • The Irish will look to ride their wave of momentum on Friday when they take on two-seed North Carolina at 6 p.m. ET.

The players

Bianca Molnar

A sophomore who clinched the victory for Notre Dame on court one in three sets.

Akari Matsuno

Won her singles match on court two in straight sets, recording a ranked win over No. 69 Rinon Okuwaki.

Jessica Kovalcik

Won her singles match on court six in straight sets, helping to swing the momentum in Notre Dame's favor.

Jade Groen

Clemson's top singles player, who faced off against Bianca Molnar on court one.

Rinon Okuwaki

Clemson's No. 69 ranked singles player, who lost to Akari Matsuno on court two.

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What’s next

The Irish will look to continue their tournament run when they face 2-seed North Carolina on Friday at 6 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

This comeback victory showcases the Fighting Irish's resilience and ability to overcome adversity, setting them up for a quarterfinal matchup against a highly-ranked opponent as they aim to advance further in the ACC Tournament.