WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The first match of ITA Kickoff weekend proved a great battle for the Irish but one they were ready for. After dropping the doubles point and taking a loss at #3 singles to go down 2-0, Notre Dame would win 4 of the remaining 5 matches to win the contest against Southern Methodist.
Sophomore Jean-Marc Malkowski put the first point on the scoreboard for the Irish with a 6-2, 7-5 win at #6 singles over Jordi Redelijk. Shortly after, Connor Fu would tally another point at #4 singles with a 7-6(4), 6-1 win over Julian Steinhauser to knot it up at 2-2 overall. Graduate student Peter Conklin would come back from a set down at #5 singles to give the Irish their first lead of the day at 3-2 overall. Addy Vashistha fought a long hard match but ultimately dropped to Liam Krall 5-7, 7-6, 6-4.
With the score tied at 3-3, all eyes turned to the top of the lineup where senior captain Axel Nefve was battling Caleb Chakravarthi. After going down a set and 2-5, Nefve would go on to win 5 of the next 6 games to take the second set. In the 3rd, there was no stopping the Irish as Nefve put up a decisive 6-0 victory to clinch the match and 4-3 win over Southern Methodist.
Next Up:
The Irish will take the court again tomorrow at 5pm for the final round of ITA Kickoff weekend. They await the winner of a match between host and #10 ranked Wake Forest and #16 ranked Michigan to determine their opponent. On the line is a bid to ITA National Team Indoors in February to the winner of tomorrow’s match.
Box Score
Notre Dame 4 – St. Louis 3
Doubles
- Neff/Thamma(SMU) def Che/Nefve(ND) 6-4
- Conklin/Fu(ND) vs. Chakravarthi/Kumar(SMU) 4-3 Did Not Finish
- Krall/Steinhauser(SMU) def. Malkowski/Vashistha(ND) 6-3
Singles
- Nefve(ND) def Chakravarthi(SMU) 6-7, 7-6, 6-0
- Krall(SMU def Vashistha(ND) 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-4
- Neff(SMU) def. Che(ND) 6-2, 6-2
- Fu(ND) def Steinhausen(SMU) 7-6(4), 6-1
- Conklin(ND) def Thamma(SMU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
- Malkowski(ND) def Redelijk(SMU) 6-2, 7-5
Order of finish: Doubles(3, 1); Singles (3, 6, 4, 5, 2, 1)