Notre Dame junior Brett Helgeson is 22-5 this season and ranked 32nd in the nation, helping the Irish to a 9-4 record and a No. 12 national ranking.

Helgeson Upsets Second-Ranked Player In The Nation; Advances Into Semifinals

Oct. 22, 2007

Minneapolis, Minn. – Junior #66 and ninth-seeded Brett Helgeson continued his torrid run through the ITA Midwest Regional Championships Sunday at the Baseline Tennis Center. Helgeson moved into the semifinals with a pair of victories, including a three-set, thriller over the top seed, defending champion and nation’s second-ranked player, Steve Moneke of Ohio State.

Helgeson (Overland Park, KS) exploded out of the gate taking the opening set by a convincing 6-2 margin, but Moneke answered back with a 6-1 victory setting up a third and deciding set. Helgeson would not be denied and came away with a 6-4 victory.

With the victory, he moved into the quarterfinals to face sixth-seeded and 41st-ranked Raoul Schwark of Minnesota. Helgeson proved far to strong for the Golden Gopher. He cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 victory.

Helgeson improves to 12-0 on the season. Including the end of last season, he has captured 19 consecutive matches. Helgeson now stands 66-18 for his career. He moves into the semifinals to face ninth-ranked and third seeded Ryan Rowe of Illinois on Monday at 9:00 a.m.

Senior #30 and fourth-seeded Sheeva Parbhu (Omaha, NE) was not as fortunate. Parbhu dropped his round of 16 match to #104 and 13th-seeded Justin Kronauge of Ohio State, 6-4, 6-4. Parbhu’s record this season is now 4-4, while his career mark drops to 98-31.

The ITA Midwest Men’s Region IV Championships continues at Minnesota’s Baseline Tennis Center on Monday with main draw action in both the singles and doubles.

NCAA Men’s Tennis
ITA Midwest Region IV Men’s Tournament
Oct. 18-22, 2007
University of Minnesota Baseline Tennis Center
Minneapolis, Minn.

Singles (Round of 16)
#66 [9] Brett Helgeson (ND) def. #2 [1] Steven Moneke; 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
#104 [13] Justin Kronauge (OSU) def. #30 [4] Sheeva Parbhu (ND); 6-4, 6-4

Singles (Quarterfinals)
#66 [9] Brett Helgeson (ND) def. #41 [6] Raoul Schwark (Minn); 6-3, 6-4

— ND —