Aug. 13, 2014
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Greg Andrews thought he was done playing tennis for the University of Notre Dame, as the former team captain and Irish standout graduated in May. But Andrews has accepted an invitation to play in the inaugural American Collegiate Invitational in September, and he will represent Notre Dame one final time.
Andrews is one of only eight American men’s collegiate players invited to compete in the singles tournament, which will take place Sept. 4-6 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. The event coincides with the second week of the US Open, with the winner receiving a wild card into a future pro event.
“When Coach Sachire called me and told me about an opportunity to represent Notre Dame on the tennis court, I couldn’t have been more excited,” Andrews says. “I am very grateful to receive an invitation to this event, and I am looking forward to competing hard and enjoying myself in New York.”
Though eight players will compete in the tournament, the USTA was allowed to invite only two athletes who had exhausted their college eligibility this year, making Andrews’ opportunity all the more special.
“We couldn’t be more excited for Greg to have the opportunity to compete in the American Collegiate Invitational,” says Notre Dame head coach Ryan Sachire. “This new initiative by the USTA, to feature the best American college players in the country at the US Open, will be yet another outstanding opportunity for Greg to compete at the highest level of our sport. It is an incredible honor for Greg to have earned such an opportunity, and it is yet another reflection of how great his senior year at Notre Dame was.”
During the 2013-14 season, Andrews had a 17-12 record for the Irish at No. 1 singles. He led his team to a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Championship, advanced to the round of 32 in the NCAA singles tournament and played with partner Alex Lawson in the NCAA doubles tournament as well. He was also named the National Arthur Ashe Award Winner.
Andrews also received another honor this week, as the alumnus became the third Notre Dame student-athlete this year (after soccer players Harrison Shipp and Elizabeth Tucker) to receive one of the NCAA’s most prestigious honors-an NCAA postgraduate scholarship.
Andrews is the 53rd Irish student-athlete to win the educational grant of $7,500, and the scholarship will be put to good use in a few weeks when he returns to campus to begin pursuing a Masters of Science in Accounting from the Mendoza College of Business.
–Lauren Chval, Media Relations Assistant
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