April 7, 1999

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The 26th-ranked Notre Dame mens tennis team rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat 47th-ranked Purdue 4-3 on Mon., April 5, at the Purdue Varsity Courts. After losing the doubles point and the first two singles matches, the Irish won four straight three-set matches, including a sweep of the top three singles spots, to improve to 12-7 with their ninth straight win over the Boilermakers. Purdue falls to 12-3.

Purdue won the doubles points to lead 1-0 with wins at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles. The Boilers then used wins at Nos. 4 and 5 singles to build a 3-0 lead, needing just one win in the final four matches to beat Notre Dame for the first time since 1989. Senior captain Brian Patterson began the comeback as he held off Jamie Gordon 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 at No. 2 singles for his 10th consecutive singles win. Junior All-American and second-ranked Ryan Sachire cut the lead to 3-2 with a 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-4 win over Derek Myers at No. 1 singles to improve his record to 32-7 this year. Sophomore Matt Daly knotted the match by beating Purdues 61st-ranked Jason Marshall 7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-1 at No. 3 singles for his first win over a ranked opponent this year. Irish senior Andy Warford then completed Notre Dames comeback with a dramatic 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (4) victory over Derek Miller at No. 6 singles to win the clinching match for the Irish for the third time this season.

The Irish close out the 1999 regular season at home with matches against Ball State on Wed., April 7, at 3:00 p.m., and Michigan on Wed., April 14, at 3:00 p.m.

#26 NOTRE DAME 4, #47 PURDUE 3

Singles

No. 1: #2 Ryan Sachire (ND) def. Derek Myers (P)    6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4No. 2: Brian Patterson (ND) def. Jamie Gordon (P)       6-2, 5-7, 6-3No. 3: Matt Daly (ND) def. #61 Jason Marshall       7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-1No. 4: #46 Cris James (P) def. Andrew Laflin (ND)            6-4, 6-4No. 5: Cade Lutz (P) def. Casey Smith (ND)              6-3, 3-6, 7-5No. 6: Andy Warford (ND) def. Derek Miller (P)       6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (4)

Doubles

No. 1: #43 Patterson/Sachire (ND) def. Al-Agba/Myers (P)          8-6No. 2: Gordon/Swan (P) def. Trent Miller/Javier Taborga (ND)      8-3No. 3: James/Marshall (P) def. Daly/Smith (ND)                    8-1