March 6, 2015
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Quentin Monaghan continued his dominating singles play for the 23rd-ranked University of Notre Dame men’s tennis team, but it wasn’t enough to propel the Irish past Atlantic Coast Conference foe Virginia Tech in their conference opener at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center in Blacksburg on Friday.
The 24th-ranked Monaghan continued his dominating stretch of matches, picking up a 7-6(3), 6-4 win over No. 49 Andreas Contini at No. 1 singles. Monaghan has won seven straight, with the last six coming in straight sets. The junior is now also 4-1 against ranked opponents in dual competition.
It was too little, too late, though, as the No. 44 Hokies (9-1, 1-0 ACC) picked up the first four singles points to earn the victory after the Irish (6-4, 0-1 ACC) claimed the doubles point.
After No. 19 Eddy Covalschi and Josh Hagar fell to Contini and Andreas Bjerrehus, 8-4 on Court 1, Alex Lawson and Monaghan snapped up an 8-7(1) win over Joao Monteiro and Jai Corbett on Court 2. Dougie Barnard and Billy Pecor wrapped up the point for Notre Dame, defeating Hunter Koontz and Florian Nicoud by a similar score, 8-7(3).
It was a different story in singles, though, as Virginia Tech took the next three points in straight sets. Edoardo Tessaro defeated Lawson, 7-6(2), 6-2 at No. 5 singles, while Pecor fell to Koontz while trying for a third set at the No. 4 slot, 6-2, 7-6(4). Hagar then fell to No. 74 Bjerrehus on Court 2, 6-3, 6-3.
Nicolas Montoya turned in an impressive second set against Corbett on Court 6 to force an extra session, but ultimately fell, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, as the Hokies secured the victory.
Covalschi battled to a third-set victory on Court 3 in the remaining match, defeating Monteiro 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 to snap a personal three-match skid.
The Irish will head back west to face No. 33 Louisville at noon ET on Sunday at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center. For the latest updates on Irish men’s tennis, follow @NDMensTennis on Twitter and like Notre Dame Men’s Tennis on Facebook.
No. 44 Virginia Tech 4, No. 23 Notre Dame 3
SINGLES
1. No. 24 Quentin Monaghan (ND) def. No. 49 Amerigo Contini (VT), 7-6(3), 6-4
2. No. 74 Andreas Bjerrehus (VT) def. No. 102 Josh Hagar (ND), 6-3, 6-3
3. Eddy Covalschi (ND) def. Joao Monteiro (VT), 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
4. Hunter Koontz (VT) def. Billy Pecor (ND), 6-2, 7-6(4)
5. Edoardo Tessaro (VT) def. Alex Lawson (ND), 7-6(2), 6-2
6. Jai Corbett (VT) def. Nicolas Montoya (ND), 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
DOUBLES
1. Amerigo Contini / Andreas Bjerrehus (VT) def. Eddy Covalschi / Josh Hagar (ND). 8-4
2. Alex Lawson / Quentin Monaghan (ND) def. Joao Monteiro / Jai Corbett (VT), 8-7(1)
3. Dougie Barnard / Billy Pecor (ND) DEF. Hunter Koontz / Florian Nicoud (ND), 8-7(3)
Joanne Norell, Media Relations Assistant
-ND-