May 23, 2013
URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – After experiencing lengthy weather delays, University of Notre Dame men’s tennis junior Greg Andrews was eliminated by Southern California’s Ray Sarmiento Thursday during the second round of the NCAA Singles Championship at the Atkins Tennis Center. Andrews was unable to pull the upset on a top-20 opponent in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings for the second consecutive day, falling 7-5, 1-6, 6-4.
Andrews surrendered the first two games during the first set before earning a mark for himself on the scoreboard. Sarmiento controlled the pace of the frame, gaining a one game advantage numerous times in the set, only for Andrews to return a serve or volley and tie the set.
After thirty minutes of play, the score stood at 5-5. Sarmiento gained the upper hand by winning the final two games to claim the set.
Andrews took the court by storm in the second set and only allowed Sarmiento one game early on. With the score at 2-1 in the Notre Dame junior’s favor, Andrews won four consecutive games for a 6-1 victory that tied the match at one set apiece.
In the third and final set of the match, Andrews again scored the first game triumph, but Sarmiento responded and tied the frame at one-all. Andrews replied with a blistering serve and earned his second game in the only remaining singles match still on the court at the Atkins Tennis Center. Sarmiento tied it again, 2-2, and from there the set went back and forth until Sarmiento emerged victorious, 6-4.
Andrews finished the season 26-13 (18-7 in dual play) after beginning the campaign ranked No. 24 in the ITA polls. He won BIG EAST Conference Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season, and was named the BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Player at the 2013 conference tournament.
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