Sept. 17, 2011
CHICAGO, Ill. – After a tough morning session that saw the Notre Dame men’s tennis team win only one match out of nine, the Irish bounced back to win four of six matches in the afternoon on day two of the Illini Invitational in Chicago, Ill.
“We showed some pride in the afternoon coming back and playing well after a tough morning,” said head coach Bobby Bayliss. “But we still have to work on closing out sets better and also getting better at playing on clay courts.”
In the first session, sophomore Ryan Bandy produced the only win of the morning, as he defeated California’s Riki McLachlan in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. Freshman Wyatt McCoy, senior Samuel Keeton and sophomore Billy Pecor all lost close three-set matches.
The Irish bounced back in the second session, claiming four victories. Highlighting the afternoon was Keeton, who defeated No. 113 Ben Chen of Texas in a three-set thriller, 6-0, 5-7, 7-6 (6). McCoy cruised past Kentucky’s Ryuji Hirooka, 6-3, 6-1, while sophomore Greg Andrews and Bandy each produced hard-fought victories. Andrews took down Alabama’s Carlos Taborga, 6-4, 6-4, while Bandy defeated the Crimson Tide’s Stuart Kenyon, 7-5, 6-2.
Notre Dame concludes the three-day tourney on Sunday with a mixture of doubles and singles play.
Singles Round 2
Carlos Taborga (BAMA) def. Wyatt McCoy (ND), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Tom Jomby (UK) def. #28 Casey Watt (ND), 6-2, 6-0
Bruno Abdelnour (ILL) def. Samuel Keeton (ND), 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(6)
#45 Nick Andrews (CAL) def. Greg Andrews (ND), 6-2, 6-4
Ryan Bandy (ND) def. Riki McLachlan (CAL), 6-2, 6-4
David Holiner (UT) def. Niall Fitzgerald (ND), 6-3, ret.
Sudanwa Sitaram (UT) def. Blas Moros (ND), 6-4, 6-2
#113 Ben Chen (UT) def. Billy Pecor (ND), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Chris Camillone (UT) def. Spencer Talmadge (ND), 6-4, 6-3
Singles Round 3
#45 Nick Andrews (CAL) def. #28 Casey Watt (ND), 6-2, 6-1
Wyatt McCoy (ND) def. Ryuji Hirooka (UK), 6-3, 6-1
Greg Andrews (ND) def. Carlos Taborga (BAMA), 6-4, 6-4
Ryan Bandy (ND) def. Stuart Kenyon (BAMA), 7-5, 6-2
David Holiner (UT) def. Blas Moros (ND), 0-6, 6-3, 6-1
Samuel Keeton (ND) def. #113 Ben Chen (UT), 6-0, 5-7, 7-6(6)
–ND–