Sept. 19, 2008
Ann Arbor, Mich. – The men’s tennis team’s fall season got underway at the Wolverine Invitational on Friday. The Irish lineup faced Miami in singles play, posting a combined 5-3 mark and Denver in doubles action, where the Irish went 4-0. Senior Brett Helgeson (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West) tied for the highest point total on the day with 12.
The Invitational works on an individual point scoring system, with players earning points for both singles and doubles wins. At the first position, a player earns eight points for a win, down through the eighth position where a win is worth one point. In doubles play, four points are awarded to each member of the winning team in the number one position, down to the fourth spot, where a win is worth one point for each player.
In singles action, #25 Helgeson defeated Daniel Rosenfield in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. Helgeson played in the number one position, as he did for most of the 2007-08 season, thus earning eight points for the win. Stephen Havens (Cincinnati, OH/Hill Christian School) was defeated by David Simon in a close match, 7-6, 7-5. Daniel Stahl (Bethesda, MD/Walt Whitman HS), playing at the number three position, was one of three Irish players involved in three-set singles matches. He defeated Kieth Crowley (6-2, 5-7, 6-4). Tyler Davis rounded out the top-four positions for the Irish, defeating Ignacio Taboada (7-6, 1-6, 6-4).
David Anderson (Nashville, TN/Father Ryan HS) played at the number five spot, defeating JC Whitner (7-6, 7-5). Freshman Niall Fitzgerald (Wicklow, Ireland/Blackrock College) played at the number six position in his first collegiate action, dropping a two-setter (7-6, 7-6) to Hector Nieto. Matt Johnson (Portage, MI/Portage Central HS) earned two points with his 6-0, 6-1 win over Westin Wendt. Senior Santiago Montoya (Austin, TX/St. Stephen’s Episcopal School) rounded out Notre Dame’s singles lineup, dropping a three set match to Matt Parks of Michigan (6-3, 3-6, 6-1).
The Irish posted a perfect 4-0 record in doubles action. Helgeson teamed with Davis at the number one spot, winning 8-1. Havens and Watt won 9-7 while Montoya and Anderson (9-7) as well as Fitzgerald and Stahl (9-8) each won in tightly contested matches.
The Invitational continues tomorrow, as Notre Dame will face Michigan in doubles play at 12:30 p.m. followed by singles play against Denver at 1:30 p.m. To conclude the Invitational, the Irish will face Miami in singles play at 12:30 p.m. and Michigan in doubles play at 1:30 p.m on Sunday, September 21.
Complete Day One Results (UM Varsity Tennis Center-Ann Arbor, Michigan):
Singles Match 1: Notre Dame vs. Miami 1. Brett Helgeson (Notre Dame) def. Daniel Rosenfield (Miami), 6-1, 6-2 2. David Simon (Miami) def. Stephen Havens (Notre Dame), 7-6, 7-5 3. Daniel Stahl (Notre Dame) def. Keith Crowley (Miami). 6-2. 5-7, 6-4 4. Tyler Davis (Notre Dame) def. Ignacio Taboada (Miami), 7-6, 1-6, 6-4 5. David Anderson (Notre Dame) def. JC Whitner (Miami), 7-6, 7-5 6. Hector Nieto (Miami) def. Niall Fitzgerald (Notre Dame), 7-6, 7-6 7. Matt Johnson (Notre Dame) def. Westin Wendt (Miami), 6-0, 6-1 8. Matt Parks (Mich) def. Santiago Montoya (Notre Dame), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
Doubles Michigan vs. Miami 1. Jason Jung/Mike Sroczynski (Michigan) def. David Rosenfield/ David Simon 8-5 2. George Navas/Drew Daniel (Michigan) def. Keith Crowley/Ignacio Taboada (Miami), 9-7 3. Hector Nieto/J.C. Whitner (Miami) def. Chris Madden/Andrew Mazlin (Michigan), 8-5 4. Mike DePietro/Peter Aarts (Michigan) def. Matt Parks/David Streeter (Michigan) , 8-5 Notre Dame vs. Denver 1. Brett Helgason/Tyler Davis (Notre Dame) def. David Simson/Yannick Weihs (Denver), 8-1 2. Stephen Havens/Casey Watt (Notre Dame) def. Martin Zimmerman/Andrew Landwerlen (Denver), 8-5 3. Santiago Montoya/David Anderson (Notre Dame) def. Jonhan Gunnarsson/Benny Althaus (Denver), 9-7 4. Niall Fitzgerald/Dan Stahl (Notre Dame) def. Ravjot Dhatt/Varun Gunaseela (Denver), 9-8
Singles Match Two: Michigan vs. Denver 1. Jason Jung (Michigan) def. David Simson (Denver), 6-1, 6-7(7), 6-3 2. Andrew Mazlin (Michigan) def. Martin Zimmerman (Denver), 6-4, 6-4 3. Mike Srocynski (Michigan) def. Benny Althaus (Denver), 3-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(3) 4. Yannick Weihs (Denver) def. Peter Aarts (Michigan), 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 5. Johan Gunnarsson (Denver) def. George Navas (Michigan), 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-0 6. Andrew Landwerlen (Denver) def. Chris Madden (Michigan), 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-6(9) 7. Drew Daniel (Michigan) def. Ravjot Dhatt (Denver), 6-2, 6-4 8. David Streeter (Michigan) def. Varun Gunaseelan (Denver), 6-1, 6-2
Standings (Thru Friday Sept. 19) Brett Helgason (Notre Dame)-12 Jason Jung (Michigan)-12 Mike Sroczynski (Michigan)-10 Tyler Davis (Notre Dame) -10 David Simon (Miami)-7 Daniel Stahl (Notre Dame)-7 Andrew Mazlin (Michigan)-7 David Anderson (Notre Dame)-6 Hector Nieto (Miami)-5 Yannick Weihs (Denver)-5 Drew Daniel (Michigan)-5 Johan Gunnarsson (Denver)-4 Stephen Haven (Notre Dame)-3 Casey Watt (Notre Dame)-3 George Navas (Michigan)-3 Andrew Landwerlen (Denver)-3 Matt Johnson (Notre Dame)-2 Santiago Montoya (Notre Dame)-2 J.C. Whitner (Mimai)-2 Mike DePietro (Michigan)-1 Peter Aarts (Michigan)-1 David Streeter (Michigan)-1 Niall Fitzgerald (Notre Dame)-1
–ND–