Nov. 25, 2003
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame men’s tennis coach Bob Bayliss recently announced the signing of two incoming freshmen for the 2004-05 school year. Sheeva Parbhu (Omaha, Neb./Millard North H.S.) and Andrew Roth (Houston, Texas/The Tenney School) have signed national letters of intent to enroll at Notre Dame next year and join the Irish tennis team. Both competitors are among the top 30 current prep players who will be entering college in the fall.
Parbhu is ranked 57th in the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Boys’ 18-and-under national rankings and is 30th among high school seniors. Last season, he won the Nebraska state singles championship.
“Sheeva is one of the better athletes in the country on the U.S. junior circuit,” said Bayliss. “His forehand and serve are big weapons. I truly believe the exposure he gets here will benefit him greatly, and his game will grow at the college level.”
Roth is 33rd in the latest USTA 18s rankings and is 19th among players who will begin college in the fall. He is the current 18-and-under champion of the Texas section of the USTA and was the No. 1 player on the Texas Junior Davis Cup team.
“Andrew brings a lot to the table,” said Bayliss. “He is as competitive as anybody, and he is at his best in a tough fight, where his ability to hit a big forehand and outcompete his opponent really seem to surface. We are excited to have him join us, and I think he will play his best tennis in the college dual-match format.”
Bayliss said there is a prospect of additional signings for the class of 2008, but NCAA regulations do not allow him to make any further comment on them at this time.
The 2003-04 Irish squad will open its dual-match season on Jan. 17 at Indiana before beginning its home slate on Jan. 23 against Texas A&M at 4 p.m. (EST) in the Eck Tennis Pavilion.