EAST LANSING, Mich. – Players from across the Midwest descended upon Michigan State this past weekend to compete in the ITA Regional. The event, which was a combination of qualifying and main draw singles action as well as a doubles main draw, featured seven Notre Dame men’s tennis players in the singles draw.
In the first round, the Irish went 5-2 picking up wins from Matt Che, Connor Fu, Brian Bilsey, Yu Zhang and Axel Nefve, who was the top seed. Bilsey came from a set down to beat Illinois’ Alex Petrov, picking up the best win of his young career. Meanwhile, his freshman classmate Zhang also won over his opponent from Cleveland State. Juniors Che and Fu each picked up straight-set wins over their opponents.
Later, after winning his opening-round match with ease, Nefve earned a victory in the second round as well, besting a player from Cleveland State. However, Nefve’s run came to an end in the round of 16 to Robert Cash from Ohio State.
In doubles action, junior Matt Che and freshman Yu Zhang paired together and had an impressive run to the quarterfinals. The doubles draw began on Saturday morning where Che/Zhang opened up with an 8-2 win over 16-seeded Bilinovich/Mindry from Cleveland State. They followed up with an 8-6 win over the Toledo team of Shoults/Sornlaksup before taking out the 4-seeded team from Illinois of Brown/Kenyatte 8-5. Ultimately, in the quarterfinals, they succumbed to 11-seeded Vile/Parts from Wisconsin.
The Fighting Irish will have one more team event as they head south to the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational November 5th-7th. Nefve will compete at the ITF Futures in Ithaca early next week as well.
Qualifying Singles
1st Rd: Bye
2nd Rd: Tin Krstulovic (MU) def. Matthew Halpin (ND), 6-2, 6-1
1st Rd: Bye
2nd Rd: Luke Baylis (MSU) def. Jameson Corsillo (ND), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2
Main Draw Singles
1st Rd: Axel Nefve (ND) def. Alex Zederbauer (UM), 6-1, 6-2
2nd Rd: Axel Nefve (ND) def. Maxime Mareschal-Hay (CSU), 6-3, 6-4
Quarters: Robert Cash (OSU) def. Axel Nefve (ND), 6-3, 6-4
1st Rd: Brian Bilsey (ND) def. Alex Petrov (ILL), 1-6, 6-4, 6-4
2nd Rd: Trice Pickens (NU) def. Brian Bilsey (ND), 6-1, 6-1
1st Rd: Benjamin George (WMU) def. Braeden Ho (ND), 6-7(2), 6-0, 7-6(4)
1st Rd: Connor Fu (ND) def. Fran San Andres (MU), 6-4, 6-2
2nd Rd: Patrick Maloney (UM) def. Connor Fu (ND), 7-5, 6-0
1st Rd: Yu Zhang (ND) def. Kade Mindry (CSU), 6-4, 6-2
2nd Rd: James Trotter (OSU) def. Yu Zhang (ND), 6-2, 7-6(2)
1st Rd: Matthew Che (ND) def. Joaquin Caballer (WMU), 7-6(5), 6-3
2nd Rd: Nino Ehrenschneider (UM) def. Matthew Che (ND), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
1st Rd: Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Peter Conklin (ND), 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3
Singles Consolation
Peter Conklin (ND) def. Tripp Tuff, 6-1, 6-0
Simen Bratholm (NU) def. Braeden Ho (ND), 6-4, 6-4
— ND —