Feb. 3, 2018
By Joanne Norell
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The University of Notre Dame men’s tennis team is off to its best start in five seasons, improving to 6-0 after a tight 4-3 victory over Atlantic Coast Conference foe Boston College on Saturday.
How It Happened
After winning the first doubles match on Court 2, the Irish (6-0, 1-0 ACC) ultimately dropped the doubles point as the Eagles (1-1, 0-1 ACC) snared tight wins on Courts 1 and 3.
Freshman Richard Ciamarra, who entered the match undefeated in duals, tied the match at 1-1 with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Sean Mullins on Court 3, while undefeated junior Grayson Broadus gave the Irish a brief lead with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Kent Mukai on Court 4.
Freshman Tristan McCormick fell to Derek Austin at the No. 1 slot 6-3, 6-4 to return the match to a tie, and the Eagles regained the lead when Gereon Heitmann defeated sophomore Matt Gamble 6-3, 7-6(5).
The Irish picked up the last two victories, however, to match their best start since 2014. Freshman William Howells came back from a first-set loss to earn his first collegiate dual singles win over Alexander Chieffalo 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, and junior Nathan Griffin sealed it for the Irish by winning 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4 over Markus Nordby.
Sachire Says
On the team’s performance…
“First of all, Boston College played a great match. We had some guys in positions that were different than their normal roles and they got challenged. I was happy for William and Nate for the opportunity they had in the lineup and they showed poise to come back and get the job done.”
Notes To Know
- Richard Ciamarra leads the Irish with a 6-0 dual singles record in 2018, while Grayson Broadus improved to 5-0 on the season.
- William Howells earned his first collegiate dual singles win.
- Notre Dame’s 6-0 start is its best since opening the 2014 season 6-0.
- The Irish improved to 8-0 all-time against Boston College, including 5-0 under Callaghan Family Head Men’s Tennis Coach Ryan Sachire.
No. 23/18 Notre Dame 4, Boston College 3
Flynn Recreation Complex
Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Singles
1. Derek Austin (BC) def. Tristan McCormick (ND) 6-3, 6-4
2. Gereon Heitmann (BC) def. Matt Gamble (ND) 6-3, 7-6(5)
3. Richard Ciamarra (ND) def. Sean Mullins (BC) 6-1, 6-1
4. Grayson Broadus (ND) def. Kent Mukai (BC) 6-0, 6-1
5. William Howells (ND) def. Alexander Chieffalo (BC) 1-6, 7-5, 6-3
6. Nathan Griffin (ND) def. Markus Nordby (BC) 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4
Doubles
1. Derek Austin / Sean Mullins (BC) def. Brendon Kempin / Tristan McCormick (ND) 7-5
2. Matt Gamble / Richard Ciamarra (ND) def. Gereon Heitmann / Max Palmer (BC) 6-4
3. Conor Mullins / Kent Mukai (BC) def. Grayson Broadus / William Howells (BC) 7-6(4)
–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 men’s tennis and fencing programs, in addition to assisting with football communications and overseeing production of the football Gameday Magazine. Norell is a 2011 graduate of Purdue University and earned her master’s degree from Georgetown University in 2013.