May 28, 1998

ATHENS, Ga. – University of Notre Dame sophomore Ryan Sachire posted a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Doug Root of Duke in the second round of the singles tournament at the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championships on Thursday. Sachire now advances to the third round of the 64-player event and faces top-seeded Pavel Kudrnac of Oklahoma State on Friday in the round of 16. Kudrnac defeated Jeff Williams of New Mexico in the second round on Thursday by a 6-1, 6-3 count.

Sachire becomes the first Notre Dame men’s tennis player to advance to the round of 16 since Chuck Coleman accomplished the feat in 1993.

The Notre Dame doubles team of senior Jakub Pietrowski and junior Brian Patterson won their first round match in the 32-duo NCAA doubles tournament on Thursday with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Frank Morgan and Alex Waske of San Diego State. Pietrowski and Patterson meet Kelly Gullett and Robert Lindstedt of Pepperdine on Friday in the second round. The Pepperdine team was a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 winner over Shuon Madden and Carlos Tori from Texas A&M in the first round.