April 29, 2009
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Irish men’s tennis player Brett Helgeson (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley West) has been named to the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship field it was announced by the NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Subcommittee on Wednesday evening.
Helgeson will participate in the 64-player singles draw, which will be conducted May 20-25 at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center in College Station, Texas, following the conclusion of the team championship (May 14-19 at the same site). Texas A&M University will serve as the host.
Helgeson is making his second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Singles Championship. In 2008, he defeated Harvard’s Chris Clayton 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the Round of 32. But in the second round, he fell to Oleksandr Nedovyesov of Oklahoma State, 6-3, 6-2.
Through the regular season and the BIG EAST tournament matches, Helgeson carries a 12-10 record in 2009. All of his starts have come at No. 1 singles for the Irish, where 15 of his 22 completed matches were played against nationally ranked opponents. Most recently, the senior was a unanimous selection to the 2009 All-BIG EAST men’s tennis team.
Currently ranked 31st, Helgeson’s at-large selection for the 2009 draw gives Notre Dame 15 all-time competitors in the event who have combined for 24 appearances. He joins former teammates Stephen Bass and Sheeva Parbhu (2006-07), as well as current associate head coach Ryan Sachire (1997-00), Mike Sprouse (1995-96), Andy Zurcher (1992 & 1994) and David DiLucia (1990-92) as players to appear in the singles championship on more than one occasion for the Irish. In 2006, Parbhu earned Notre Dame’s best finish, as he was able to reach the quarterfinals.
In doubles play, Helgeson and Tyler Davis Davis (Nashville, Tenn./Father Ryan) have been named the fourth alternate team to the 32-team doubles field. The teammates have combined for a 14-10 record this season, with all 24 starts coming at No. 1 doubles. Currently ranked 30th in the nation, the duo has an 8-8 mark versus nationally ranked competition. They have heated up as of late, posting a 7-3 mark over their last 10 matches.
Helgeson and the Irish will play Michigan in a NCAA team championship first round matchup in Columbus, Ohio on May 8. For more information on the NCAA men’s tennis tournament, including Helgeson and Davis’ play at the NCAA Championship, check back with und.com. The complete NCAA singles and doubles draws can be found at NCAA.com.
— ND —