April 13, 2000

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The 29th-ranked Notre Dame men’s tennis team won the double point but won just one singles match in losing 5-2 to 26th-ranked Michigan on Thursday in Ann Arbor, Mich. Irish senior All-American Ryan Sachire beat Matt Wright 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1 singles but Notre Dame lost three three-set singles matches — including two after winning the first set — to fall to 9-9 with the loss. The Irish play their final match of the regular season at 49th-ranked Ball State on Sat., April 15.

Sachire and Trent Miller beat 55th-ranked Danny McCain and Wright 8-6 in just their second match of the season at No. 1 doubles. Junior Matt Daly and sophomore Aaron Talarico — playing their second ever doubles match together — clinched the doubles point with an 8-6 win over Zach Held and John Long. The Irish pair led 6-3 before Michigan tied the set at 6-6. Daly and Talarico then broke serve at 6-6 and Talarico served out the set at 7-6 for the point. The Wolverines won at No. 3 doubles while Talarico was serving for the doubles 0point.

In singles, Sachire gave the Irish a 2-0 lead with his victory at No. 1 singles, improving his record to 27-9 and 14-4 in dual matches. Long then beat Daly at No. 2 singles before McCain beat Talarico at No. 4 singles to tie the match at 2-2. Michigan then won the remaining matches in three sets to beat Notre Dame for just second time in the last 12 meetings.

#26 MICHIGAN 5, #29 NOTRE DAME 2

Singles

No. 1: #10 Ryan Sachire (ND) def. Matt Wright (M) 6-3, 6-3

No. 2: John Long (M) def. Matt Daly (ND) 6-3, 6-1

No. 3: Henry Beam (M) def. Casey Smith (ND) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5

No. 4: Danny McCain (M) def. Aaron Talarico (ND) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4

No. 5: Ben Cox (M) def. Andrew Laflin (ND) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

No. 6: Zach Held (M) def. Brian Farrell (M) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

Doubles

No. 1: Trent Miller/Sachire (ND) def. #55 McCain/Wright (M) 8-6

No. 2: Daly/Talarico (ND) def. Held/Long (M) 8-6

No. 3: Beam/Chris Shaya (M) def. James Malhame/Smith (ND) 8-6