April 1, 2009
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Irish men’s tennis player Brett Helgeson (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley West) was named the BIG EAST men’s tennis Player of the Week, it was announced by the BIG EAST Conference on Wednesday.
Helgeson, currently 24th in the ITA singles rankings, led the Irish to two wins last weekend as he posted a 4-0 record including two wins at No. 1 singles and two wins at No. 1 doubles. It marks the second time this season Helgeson has been named the BIG EAST Player of the Week, having also earned the honor on Feb. 11. He joins Louisville’s Austen Childs as the only two men’s tennis players to earn the honor twice this season.
Helgeson helped Notre Dame to wins over No. 40 South Florida, 6-1, and an upset of ninth-ranked Illinois, 4-3. At first singles, Helgeson beat South Florida’s 70th-ranked Lucas Jovita, 7-6, 6-2. Then versus Illinois, he downed 63rd-ranked Marc Spicijaric, 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1.
Helgeson also notched two wins at first doubles teamed with Tyler Davis (Nashville, Tenn./Father Ryan). First they downed South Florida’s 27th-ranked team of Jovita and Thomas Estrada, 8-5. Then Helgeson and Davis, currently ranked 23rd, defeated 37th-ranked Spicijaric and Marek Czerwinski of Illinois.
Through 19 starts, Helgeson carries a 10-8 mark in 2009 dual season singles play. All 19 of his starts have come at No. 1 singles. He has faced 12 ranked opponents, while his unfinished match came versus 19th-ranked Raony Carvalho of Texas Tech, though he was leading 3-2 in the third set when the Irish clinched the win. At first doubles, he and Davis are 10-9 on the season.
Helgeson and the Irish return to the courts in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, April 11 to take on the Cardinals at 1:00 p.m. The Irish then conclude their regular season with a 2:00 p.m. match at Ball State on Monday, April 13. Recaps and box scores of both matches will also be posted on und.com.
— ND —