Oct. 7, 2016
By Joanne Norell
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – For the first time since 2013, the University of Notre Dame men’s tennis program will hold the Bobby Bayliss Invitational, hosting many of the top teams throughout the Midwest as the Irish continue to progress through their fall slate.
WHAT: Bobby Bayliss Invitational
WHO: Notre Dame, Indiana, Illinois, Memphis, Iowa, Penn State, Michigan, Marquette, Wisconsin, Louisville
WHERE: Courtney Tennis Center | Notre Dame, Ind.
WHEN: October 7-9, 2016
TWITTER: @NDMensTennis
Bayliss Breakdown
Named for legendary former Irish head coach Bobby Bayliss, this weekend’s invitational will feature three singles flights (Rockne, Leahy, Parseghian) and two doubles flights (Holtz and Kelly). Players will play within their flights, but may advance to a higher flight if they achieve success. Play will begin at 10 a.m. ET Friday.
Last Time Out
The Irish kicked off the season three weeks ago at Harvard’s Chowdah fest, collecting a pair of runner-up finishes at the event. Senior Josh Hagar took second in the singles competition with a 2-1 weekend record, while Hagar and sophomore Alex Lebedev combined for a runner-up finish in doubles with a 3-1 mark.
Last week, the Irish sent Hagar, Lebedev and senior Eddy Covalschi to the Saint Francis Health System ITA All-American Championships. Hagar and Covalschi began in qualifying doubles play, advanced to the main draw after winning three and will play in the Round of 16 on Friday. Hagar also advanced out of qualifying into the main singles draw, but fell in the first round. He will play in a first-round consolation match Friday. Lebedev fell in the first round of pre-qualifying play.
— ND —
Joanne Norell, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2014 and coordinates communications efforts for the Notre Dame women’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s tennis and fencing programs. Norell is a 2011 graduate of Purdue University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, and earned her master’s degree in sports industry management from Georgetown University in 2013.