April 13, 2013
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The No. 32 University of Notre Dame men’s tennis team won the doubles point and then claimed three of the first four singles matches to take down BIG EAST rival Louisville (No. 47), 5-2, Saturday afternoon at Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.
Notre Dame (16-7, 3-0 BIG EAST) picked up its first win in Louisville (13-12, 0-1 BIG EAST) since 2007 and earned its second consecutive victory over the league foe. The Irish finish the regular season undefeated against conference foes and are the favorite to claim the No. 1 seed for next week’s BIG EAST Championship that will be held next Thursday – Sunday (April 18-21) at Courtney Tennis Center on the campus of Notre Dame.
The Irish will enter the BIG EAST Championship riding a six-match winning streak, including a pair of ranked wins over league foes.
“I thought he played very well at one and three doubles and took all doubt out of the doubles point quickly,” said head coach Bobby Bayliss. “The top of our lineup carried us in singles as we played awfully well at one and two. It was important for Greg (Andrews) to beat Sebastian (Stiefelmeyer), who is ranked 20-something spots above him in the rankings. It was key for us to win to give us momentum heading into next week’s BIG EAST Championship.”
Notre Dame claimed the doubles point in dominating fashion, winning handily at one and three. At No. 3, Greg Andrews and Matt Dooley blew past Jeffrey Brown and Chris Simich, 8-1, while at one No. 82 Billy Pecor and Alex Lawson breezed past Albert Wagner and Alex Gornet, 8-2. The Cardinals did claim an 8-6 win at two as Sebastian Stiefelmeyer and Van Damrongsri topped Ryan Bandy and Spencer Talmadge in a close match.
The Cardinals began singles by knotting the score at one as Chris Simich took down senior Blas Moros, 6-4, 6-2, at three. Notre Dame wouldn’t be denied however, as it locked up the crucial match with victories at one, two and four singles. The Irish took a 2-1 lead as No. 89 Andrews earned a big straight-sets win over No. 66 Stiefelmeyer at one, 6-4, 6-1. The lead extended to 3-1 after freshman Quentin Monaghan dropped Wagner in straight sets at two, 6-3, 6-2. Notre Dame locked up the match at four as Billy Pecor swept Michael Lippens in the third set to win, 1-6, 6-3, 6-0.
With the match already decided, Wyatt McCoy won at five over Gornet, 6-2, 6-7, 1-0 (10-7), and Damrongsri knocked off Bandy at six, 5-7, 7-5, 1-0 (10-5).
#32 Notre Dame 5, #47 Louisville 2
Singles
1. #89 Greg Andrews (ND) def. #66 Seb Stiefelmeyer (LOU) 6-4, 6-1
2. Quentin Monaghan (ND) def. Albert Wagner (LOU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Chris Simich (LOU) def. Blas Moros (ND) 6-4, 6-2
4. Billy Pecor (ND) def. Michael Lippens (LOU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-0
5. Wyatt McCoy (ND) def. Alex Gornet (LOU) 6-2, 6-7, 10-7
6. Van Damrongsri (LOU) def. Ryan Bandy (ND) 5-7, 7-5, 10-5
Doubles
1. #82 Billy Pecor / Alex Lawson (ND) def. Albert Wagner / Alex Gornet (LOU) 8-2
2. Seb Stiefelmeyer / Van Damrongsri (LOU) def. Ryan Bandy / Spencer Talmadge (ND) 8-6
3. Greg Andrews / Matt Dooley (ND) def. Jeffrey Brown / Chris Simich (LOU) 8-1
Match Notes:
Notre Dame 16-7; National ranking #32
Louisville 13-12; National ranking #47
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,1,2,4,5,6)
T-336 A-212
–ND–