Feb. 26, 2011
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The 26th-ranked University of Notre Dame men’s tennis team was downed 4-0 by No. 21 Pepperdine in the semifinal round of the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic at the Lagoon Park Tennis Center in Montgomery, Ala.
Pepperdine earned an early lead over Notre Dame, capturing wins at first and second doubles. At first doubles, 28th-ranked seniors Tyler Davis (Nashville, Tenn./Father Ryan) and Stephen Havens (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy) were downed by 55th-ranked Hugh Clarke and Finn Tearney. The Irish fought until the end, but were defeated 9-8 (7-4) by the Waves.
Junior Niall Fitzgerald (Wicklow, Ireland/Blackrock College) and sophomore Spencer Talmadge (Hillsborough, Calif./Junipero Serra), ranked 51st nationally, dropped an 8-4 decision to Alex Llompart and Alfredo Moreno at second doubles to make the score 1-0 in favor of the Waves.
The third doubles match was halted to commence the the singles portion of the match. The score was at 7-7 and junior Casey Watt (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) and freshman Greg Andrews (Richland Mich./Gull Lake) had returned from a 6-3 deficit.
In singles action, 77th-ranked Watt was downed by No. 20 Fanselow in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. The junior’s record moves to 5-6 at the No. 1 position.
At No. 2, Havens dropped the match to 47th-ranked Tearney in a two-set match (6-3, 6-1). At No. 3, Daniel Stahl (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) was downed by No. 50 Llompart. The senior fell in straight sets (6-4, 6-3).
The remaining singles matches were unfinished.
Notre Dame is set to face No. 17 Texas Tech for the final match of the 2011 Blue Gray National Tennis Classic. The match is tentatively scheduled for noon (ET) at the Lagoon Park Tennis Center in Montgomery, Ala.
The Red Raiders enter the match with a 7-5 record, recently dropping a 4-3 decision to No. 22 Auburn.
Be sure to check back with und.com for a complete recap of Notre Dame’s final match at the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic.
No. 21 Pepperdine, 4 No. 26 Notre Dame, 0
Doubles:
No. 1 No. 55 Hugh Clarke/Finn Tearney (PU) def. No. 28 Tyler Davis/Stephen Havens (ND), 9-8 (7-4)
No. 2 Alex Llompart/Alfredo Moreno (PU) def. No. 51 Niall Fitzgerald/Spencer Talmadge (ND), 8-4
No. 3 Casey Watt/Greg Andrews (ND vs. No. 61 Sebastian Fanselow/Jenson Turner (PU), 7-7 (unfinished)
Singles:
No. 1 No. 20 Sebastian Fanselow (PU) def. No. 77 Casey Watt (ND), 6-1, 6-3
No. 2 No. 47 Finn Tearney (PU) def. Stephen Havens (ND), 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 No. 50 Alex Llompart (PU) def. Daniel Stahl (ND), 6-4, 6-3
No. 4 Greg Andrews (ND) vs. Alfredo Moreno (PU), 3-6, 0-1 (unfinished)
No. 5 Sam Keeton (ND) vs. Mousheq Hovhannisyan (PU), 5-7, (unfinished)
No. 6 Blas Moros (ND) vs. David Sofaer (PU), 4-6, 6-6 (unfinished)
–ND–