Sept. 16, 2007
CHICAGO – The University of Notre Dame men’s tennis team struggled in second day action from the Olympia Fields Country Club/Fighting Illini Invitational Saturday. The Irish picked up just five victories in their 16 singles matches against Alabama – ranked 16th to end the 2007 season and coached by former Notre Dame assistant coach Billy Pate.
Junior #66 Brett Helgeson (Overland Park, KS) continued to lead the way for the Irish. Helgeson picked up a pair of victories, including a thrilling three-set upset of #44 Billy Mertz. He dropped the opening set to Mertz, 7-5, but answered back in dominating fashion capturing the final two sets, 6-3 and 6-4, to secure the match. Helgeson opened his day with a 6-3, 7-5, straight-set victory over Javier Bes. Helgeson improved to 3-0 on the season and 57-18 for his career.
Senior #32 Sheeva Parbhu (Omaha, NE) split his two matches on day two. Parbhu was not as successful against Mertz, dropping the match in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0, but the senior All-American did close his day on a high note with an impressive triumph over Bes. Parbhu cruised to a 6-4, 6-3, straight-set victory. Parbhu now stands 1-2 on the season and 95-29 for his career.
Freshmen David Anderson (Sandwich, MA) and junior Santiago Montoya (Austin, TX) also split two matches. Anderson dropped his opening match with #97 Mathieu Thibaudeau, 6-4, 6-4, in straight sets. He did, though, pick up a victory later in the day over Saketh Myneni, 2-6, 6-1, 6-1. Anderson improved to 2-1 on the year.
Montoya had quite a full afternoon of tennis. After knocking off Westin Wendt of Miami, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, in a tough three-set match, Montoya battled Dan Buikema of Alabama. Buikema cruised in the opening set, 6-0, but Montoya took the second set, 7-5, before dropping the third and final set, 10-8 (super tie-breaker).
Notre Dame returns to action Sunday morning with one round of singles and one round of doubles.
Singles#97 Mathieu Thibaudeau (University of Alabama) def. David Anderson (University of Notre Dame) 6-4, 6-4David Anderson (University of Notre Dame) def. Saketh Myneni (University of Alabama) 2-6, 6-1, 6-1Saketh Myneni (University of Alabama) def. Tyler Davis (University of Notre Dame) 6-0, 6-3#97 Mathieu Thibaudeau (University of Alabama) def. Tyler Davis (University of Notre Dame) 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-2)Sammy Struyf (University of Alabama) def. Dan Stahl (University of Notre Dame) 6-4, 6-3Houssam Yassine (University of Alabama) def. Dan Stahl (University of Notre Dame) 6-0, 6-1Houssam Yassine (University of Alabama) def. Stephen Havens (University of Notre Dame) 7-5, 2-6, 6-4Sammy Struyf (University of Alabama) def. Stephen Havens (University of Notre Dame) 6-2, 6-1#42 Billy Mertz (University of Alabama) def. #32 Sheeva Parbhu (University of Notre Dame) 6-1, 6-0#32 Sheeva Parbhu (University of Notre Dame) def. Javier Bes (University of Alabama) 6-4, 6-3#66 Brett Helgeson (University of Notre Dame) def. Javier Bes (University of Alabama) 6-3, 7-5#66 Brett Helgeson (University of Notre Dame) def. #42 Billy Mertz (University of Alabama) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4Dan Buikema (University of Alabama) def. Matt Johnson (University of Notre Dame) 6-3, 6-3Andrew Felsenthal (University of Alabama) vs. Matt Johnson (University of Notre Dame) - 7-5, 4-6, DNFAndrew Felsenthal (University of Alabama) def. Sean Corrigan (University of Notre Dame) 7-6 (7-3), 6-1Santiago Montoya (University of Notre Dame) def. Westin Wendt (University of Miami) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1Dan Buikema (University of Alabama) def. Santiago Montoya (University of Notre Dame) 6-0, 5-7, 10-8
— ND —