Junior Brett Helgeson improved his record to 15-1 in singles with a pair of victories this weekend.

Irish Men's Tennis Takes Five of Eight Singles Matches From Michigan To Headline Second Day Action At Wolverine Invitational

Sept. 30, 2006

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Sophomore Brett Helgeson led the University of Notre Dame men’s tennis team with a victory in both singles and doubles on the second day of the Wolverine Invitational Saturday. The Irish captured five of their eight singles matches with Michigan and split their four doubles matches against the team comprised of both Western Michigan and Boise State.

Helgeson and senior Barry King opened the day with an 8-3 victory over Piotr Dilaj and Eric Roberson of Boise State. After the duo dropped their first match of the season yesterday, they improved to 5-1 with the victory Saturday.

Helgeson, who dropped his first singles match yesterday, closed his day with a dominant, 6-2, 6-3, straight-set victory over No. 113 Ryan Heller of Michigan. Helgeson upped his record to 6-1 on the season.

Senior Stephen Bass and junior Andrew Roth picked up Notre Dame’s only other doubles victory. The duo defeated Kevin Hayward and John Pelton of Western Michigan, 8-3. Bass and Roth, who were victorious yesterday, improved to 4-0 on the season.

Senior Ryan Keckley, senior Irackli Akhvlediani, sophomore Santiago Montoya and freshman Sean Corrigan all captured wins in singles against the Wolverines.

Keckley got past George Navas, 7-5, 6-3. Keckley is now 5-1 this season. Akhvlediani outlasted Steve Peretz, 7-5, 6-7(10), 6-2 for his team-high sixth victory of the season. Montoya also survived a three-set marathon. Montoya slipped past Scott Bruckmann, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (4). Corrigan closed Notre Dame’s afternoon with a three-set victory over Matt Parks, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3. Corrigan has captured each of his first two collegiate matches.

Notre Dame returns to action Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. with doubles action against Vanderbilt. The Irish then face the Commodores in singles play at 10:00 a.m.

Doubles
Brett Helgeson/Barry King (ND) d. Piotr Dilaj/Eric Roberson (BSU), 8-3
Alex Birchmeier/Bryan Norville (WMU) d. Ryan Keckley/Santiago Montoya (ND), 8-3
Stephen Bass/Andrew Roth (ND) d. Kevin Hayward/John Pelton (WMU), 8-3
Alejandro Staub (WMU)/Brent Werbeck (BSU) d. Sean Corrigan/ Irackli Akhvlediani (ND), 8-1

Singles
Brett Helgeson (ND) d. #113 Ryan Heller (UM), 6-2, 6-3
Brian Hung (UM) d. #21 Stephen Bass (ND), 6-2, 6-2
Andrew Mazlin (UM) d. Barry King (ND), 6-4, 7-5
Ryan Keckley (ND) d. George Navas (UM), 7-5, 6-3
Irackli Akhvlediani (ND) d. Steve Peretz (UM), 7-5, 6-7(10), 6-2
Peter Aarts (UM) d. Andrew Roth (ND), 6-2, 6-4
Santiago Montoya (ND) d. Scott Bruckmann (UM), 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(4)
Sean Corrigan (ND) d. Matt Parks (UM), 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-3

— ND —