April 21, 2001

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The 12th-ranked and top-seeded Notre Dame men’s tennis team blanked fourth-seeded Rutgers 4-0 on Saturday to reach the final of the BIG EAST championship. The Irish will play for their third championship in six years in the conference at noon on Sunday against 14th-ranked and second-seeded host Miami, a 4-1 winner 56th-ranked and third-seeded Virginia Tech. Junior Casey Smith clinched the win for the Irish with his victory at No. 1 singles. Notre Dame improves to 16-5 with the win — its fourth semifinal win over Rutgers in six BIG EAST semifinal appearances — and will meet Miami in the final for the sixth consecutive year.

The Irish doubles team of junior James Malhame and freshman Matthew Scott won the first 13 points of their match and built a 7-0 lead in beating Chris Kushner and Joey Muscatiello 8-1 at No. 2 doubles. The 21st-ranked team of juniors Javier Taborga and Aaron Talarico clinched the point with an 8-2 victory over Kevin Bielen and Greg Schweitzer at No. 1 doubles.

Senior Matt Daly gave the Irish a 2-0 lead when he beat Scott Tolep 6-0, 6-2 at No. 6 singles to improve to 6-1 in dual singles matches this season. Taborga then beat Brook Deming 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 singles for a 3-0 Irish advantage. The 91st-ranked Smith ended the match with his 6-1, 6-4 win over Greg Schweitzer at No. 1 singles. Junior Aaron Talarico and sophomore Brian Farrell both led 5-2 in the second set when the match was abandoned.

The Irish improved to 11-0 at the BIG EAST championship in matches played leading up to the championship match and have not lost a match in those 11 victories. Notre Dame previously has won BIG EAST titles in 1999 and 1996 and has finished second in 2000, 1998 and 1997 — facing host Miami in all five championship matches.

#12 NOTRE DAME 4, RUTGERS 0

Singles

No. 1: #91 Casey Smith (ND) def. Greg Schweitzer (RU) 6-1, 6-4

No. 2: Javier Taborga (ND) def. Brook Deming (RU) 6-2, 6-2

No. 3: Luis Haddock-Morales (ND) vs. Kevin Bielen (RU) 6-4, 1-3, abandoned

No. 4: Aaron Talarico (ND) vs. Takashi Zetsu (RU) 6-1, 5-2, abandoned

No. 5: Brian Farrell (ND) vs. Joey Muscatiello (RU) 6-2, 5-2, abandoned

No. 6: Matt Daly (ND) def. Scott Tolep (RU) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles

No. 1: #21 Taborga/Talarico (ND) Bielen/Schweitzer (RU) 8-2

No. 2: James Malhame/Matthew Scott (ND) def. Chris Kushner/Muscatiello (RU) 8-1

No. 3: Daly/Haddock-Morales (ND) vs. Deming/Zetsu (RU) 5-4, abandoned