March 25, 2000

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The 23rd-ranked Notre Dame men’s tennis team won the doubles point but lost four singles matches to lose 4-3 to 28th-ranked North Carolina on Saturday. Senior Ryan Sachire and junior Matt Daly won in three sets for the two singles wins for the Irish, who fall to 9-6 with the loss. Notre Dame returns to action at fifth-ranked Duke on Sun., March 26, at 12:00 p.m.

The 37th-ranked doubles team of Irish sophomores Javier Taborga and Aaron Talarico beat Ben Elix and Tripp Phillips 8-5 at No. 1 doubles. Senior Trent Miller and Ryan Sachire defeated Tyne Brownlow and David Cheatwood 8-2 at No. 2 doubles to give the Irish a 1-0 lead heading into singles.

The Tar Heels rallied to for the win with straight sets singles wins at Nos. 2, 4, 5 and 6 singles, including a pair of 7-6, 7-6 matches at Nos. 4 and 5 singles. Sachire and Daly both rallied for win after dropping the first set in their matches. The 10th-ranked Sachire beat 47th-ranked Phillips 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 1 singles, while Daly won 2-6, 6-0, 6-0 over David Cheatwood at No. 3 singles.

#28 NORTH CAROLINA 4, #23 NOTRE DAME 3

Singles

No. 1: #10 Ryan Sachire (ND) def. #47 Tripp Phillips (NC) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

No. 2: Assaf Drori (NC) def. Casey Smith (ND) 6-4, 6-4

No. 3: Matt Daly (ND) def. David Cheatwood (NC) 2-6, 6-0, 6-0

No. 4: Marcio Petrone (NC) def. Javier Taborga (ND) 7-6, 7-6

No. 5: Trystan Meniane (NC) def. Andrew Laflin (ND) 7-6, 7-6

No. 6: Chad Riley (NC) def. Brian Farrell (ND) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles

No. 1: #37 Taborga/Talarico (ND) def. Ben Elix/Phillips (NC) 8-5

No. 2: Trent Miller/Sachire (ND) def. Tyne Brownlow/Cheatwood (NC) 8-2

No. 3: Drori/Petrone (NC) def. James Malhame/Smith (ND) 8-4