March 14, 2014
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The University of Notre Dame men’s tennis team suffered a harsh loss to the University of Southern California earlier this afternoon. The Trojans took down the Irish, 7-0, continuing their season-long undefeated streak at home. Notre Dame now moves to 11-5 on the season.
“USC did a great job today and were flat-out better than us,” said head coach Ryan Sachire. “Give them credit. They gave us nothing free, nothing cheap. We became impatient in certain moments and didn’t compete with the toughness and confidence that we had at earlier parts in the season. We will go back to work and be better next weekend.”
The match was just the second time the No. 8 Irish competed on outdoor courts this season. Sachire also switched up the No. 3 doubles team for the match, putting together freshman Eddy Covalschi and sophomore Quentin Monaghan for the first time this season.
No. 4 USC won the doubles point after senior Greg Andrews and sophomore Alex Lawson fell to the eighth-ranked team in the country of Hanfmann and Sarmiento, 8-5, and then freshman Josh Hagar and senior Billy Pecor dropped their match at No. 2 to de Vroome and Johnson, 8-6.
The match was clinched for USC by No. 64 Roberto Quiroz, who beat senior Ryan Bandy at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-3.
The Irish continue with another road match against Clemson next Friday, Mar. 21.
DOUBLES
(1) #8 Hanfmann/Sarmiento (USC) def. #18 Andrews/Lawson (UND) – 8-5
(2) de Vroome/Johnson (USC) def. Hagar/Pecor (UND) – 8-6
(3) Bellamy/Quiroz (USC) vs. Covalschi/Monaghan (UND) – 6-6 susp.
Order of finish: 1, 2
SINGLES
(1) #3 Ray Sarmiento (USC) def. #28 Greg Andrews (UND) – 7-5, 6-3
(2) #11 Yannick Hanfmann (USC) def. Quentin Monaghan (UND) – 6-4, 7-5
(3) #64 Roberto Quiroz (USC) def. Ryan Bandy (UND) – 6-2, 6-3*
(4) #96 Max de Vroome (USC) def. Eddy Covalschi (UND) – 6-2, 6-3
(5) Eric Johnson (USC) def. Wyatt McCoy (UND) – 6-2, 6-1
(6) #118 Michael Grant (USC) def. Billy Pecor (UND) – 6-1, 6-4
–Lauren Chval, Media Relations Assistant
–ND–