April 2, 2011
Muncie, Ind. – The 23rd-ranked University of Notre Dame men’s tennis team extended its winning streak to three consecutive matches as the Irish defeated the Ball State Cardinals 6-1 Saturday in Muncie, Ind. No. 89 Daniel Stahl (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) also continues his winning streak as the senior has won six-straight matches and now carries a 13-6 record.
Notre Dame swept the doubles point as junior Niall Fitzgerald (Wicklow, Ireland/Blackrock College) and Spencer Talmadge (Hillsborough, Calif./Junipero Serra) defeated Zane Smith and Derek Carpenter in a 9-7 decision at the No. 1 position. The victory improved the tandem’s record to 12-8. At second doubles, junior Casey Watt (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) and senior Stephen Havens (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy) handled Andres Monroy and Austin Smith, 8-4.
Freshman Greg Andrews (Richland, Mich./Gull Lake) and senior-captain Tyler Davis (Nashville, Tenn./Father Ryan) posted a win over Shaun Bussert and Alex Doherty in an 8-4 score.
Moving into singles action, Mo. 64 Watt registered a win over Dalton Albertin at the No. 1 position in straight 6-4 sets. At second singles, 125th-ranked Havens handled Z. Smith in a two-set match (6-2, 6-1). No. 89 Stahl competed at the No. 3 position and was victorious over Cliff Morrison in consecutive 6-4 sets. Andrews was unable to pick up a win over Alexandre Brym as the freshman fell in a hard-fought three-set match, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 1-0 (8).
Fitzgerald and Blas Moros (Boca Raton, Fla./Pine-Crest) picked up two additional wins for the Irish. Fitzgerald downed Austin Sansone in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0, while Moros handled Monroy, 6-1, 6-0.
The Irish return to action Sunday when they play host to No. 64 Southern Methodist at 1:00 p.m. (ET), followed by IUPUI at 6:00 p.m. Both matches are set to be played at the Eck Tennis Pavilion.
Doubles:
Spencer Talmadge/Niall Fitzgerald (ND) def. Zane Smith/Derek Carpenter (BSU), 9-7
Casey Watt/Stephen Havens (ND) def. Andres Monroy/Austin Smith (BSU), 8-4
Greg Andrews/Tyler Davis (ND) def. Shaun Bussert/Alex Doherty (BSU), 8-4
Singles:
No. 64 Casey Watt (ND) def. Dalton Albertin (BSU), 6-4, 6-4
No. 125 Stephen Havens (ND) def. Zane Smith (BSU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 89 Daniel Stahl (ND) def. Cliff Morrison (BSU), 6-4, 6-4
Alexandre Brym (BSU) def. Greg Andrews (ND), 4-6, 7-6 (7), 1-0 (8)
Niall Fitzgerald (ND) def. Austin Sansone (BSU), 6-2, 6-0
Blas Moros (ND) def. Andres Monroy (BSU), 6-1, 6-0
–ND–