Sept. 17, 2007
CHICAGO – After Saturday’s action in which Notre Dame dropped 11 of its 16 singles matches, the Irish rebounded with a perfect 6-0 record in singles matches against 2007 NCAA runner-up Illinois in final day action from the Olympia Fields Country Club/Fighting Illini Invitational Sunday. Junior #66 Brett Helgeson (Overland Park, KS) was named Most Outstanding Performer.
Helgeson capped off a perfect 4-0 weekend with a thrilling, come-from-behind victory over Billy Heiser. After dropping the opening set, 6-1, Helgeson regained his form from the previous three matches and cruised over the final two sets, 6-3, 6-3. He now stands 58-18 for his career.
Senior #32 Sheeva Parbhu (Omaha, NE) evened his record to 2-2 after disposing Connor Roth, 6-1, 6-1. Parbhu improved to 96-29 over his brilliant career. He now ranks tied for ninth with Ryan Simme (1994-97) all-time in career wins. Parbhu is just four victories shy of becoming the ninth Notre Dame men’s tennis player to ever eclipse 100 career wins.
The freshmen quartet of David Anderson (Sandwich, MA), Tyler Davis (Nashville, TN), Dan Stahl (Bethesda, MD) and Stephen Havens (Cincinnati, OH) all registered straight set victories. Anderson upended Jordan Knue, 7-5, 6-2. He improved to 3-1 on the season. Davis got past Brandon Davis, 6-4, 6-4. He evened his mark at 2-2. Stahl breezed past Calon Alpar, 6-4, 6-3. He is also now 2-2. Havens defeated Abe Souza, 6-3, 6-3. He improved to 2-2.
Notre Dame was not as dominant in doubles against the Illini. The Irish dropped two of the three matches. Ryan Rowe and Heiser beat Parbhu and Helgeson, 8-4, and Brandon Davis and Knue got past Santiago Montoya (Austin, TX) and Anderson, 8-5. Havens and Tyler Davis cruised past Connor Roth and Souza, 8-2.
Notre Dame returns to action over the weekend of Sept. 28-30. The Irish host the Tom Fallon Invitational.
Singles
#66 Brett Helgeson (Notre Dame) def. Billy Heiser (Illinois) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
#32 Sheeva Parbhu (Notre Dame) def. Connor Roth (Illinois) 6-1, 6-1
David Anderson (Notre Dame) def. Jordan Knue (Illinois) 7-5, 6-2
Tyler Davis (Notre Dame) def. Brandon Davis (Illinois) 6-4, 6-4
Dan Stahl (Notre Dame) def. Calon Alpar (Illinois) 6-4, 6-3
Stephen Havens (Notre Dame) def. Abe Souza (Illinois) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
Ryan Rowe/Billy Heiser (Illinois) def. Sheeva Parbhu/Brett Helgeson (Notre Dame) 8-4
Brandon Davis/Jordan Knue (Illinois) def. Santiago Montoya/David Anderson (Notre Dame) 8-5
Stephen Havens/Tyler Davis (Notre Dame) def. Connor Roth/Abe Souza (Illinois) 8-2
— ND —