CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — No. 34 Notre Dame Men’s Tennis concluded the 2021 team campaign with an NCAA Tournament Second Round loss to No. 16 Illinois. The Irish finish the season with a 15-11 mark.
With play moved up two hours due to the threat of inclement weather in Champaign, the Irish began play dropping the doubles point in two hard-fought doubles matches.
In singles, the Illini would prove too much for the Irish, taking three quick singles victories to earn the match victory, 4-0.
Illinois 4, Notre Dame Men’s Tennis 0
Singles competition
- Aleks Kovacevic (ILL) def. Axel Nefve (NDMTEN) 6-2, 6-2
- Siphosothando Montsi (ILL) vs. Richard Ciamarra (NDMTEN) 6-3, 3-4, unfinished
- Alex Brown (ILL) def. Tristan McCormick (NDMTEN) 6-2, 6-2
- Zeke Clark (ILL) vs. William Howells (NDMTEN) 6-3, 0-4, unfinished
- Hunter Heck (ILL) vs. Matthew Che (NDMTEN) 6-7 (2-7), 1-0, unfinished
- Noe Khlif (ILL) def. Connor Fu (NDMTEN) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition
- Alex Brown/Zeke Clark (ILL) vs. Tristan McCormick/Axel Nefve (NDMTEN) 4-5, unfinished
- Siphosothando Montsi/Noe Khlif (ILL) def. Brandon Ancona/William Howells (NDMTEN) 6-3
- Hunter Heck/Aleks Kovacevic (ILL) def. Matthew Che/Richard Ciamarra (NDMTEN) 6-3
Next Up
The Irish will await the scheduling for the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championship. Duo Axel Nefve and Tristan McCormick will represent the Irish in the doubles competition, while Nefve will also compete in the singles competition. Play is slated to begin on May 22 in Orlando, Florida.
—ND—