Jan. 17, 2014
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame men’s tennis team got off to a strong start in its 2014 spring season with a 7-0 sweep over William & Mary Friday at Eck Tennis Pavilion.
The win was especially meaningful as it was the first victory for Ryan Sachire as head coach. Sachire served on the coaching staff under now-retired ITA Hall of Fame head coach Bobby Bayliss and was an All-American when he played for the Irish himself from 1997-2000.
“Our first win as a team feels nice,” says Sachire. “It’s our first win as a team in the 2014 season. This was just another step along the way of this thing we started back in August. Our sport is such a year-round sport, it’s such a lifestyle sport in the sense that winning is an everyday part of it. This was just another day. Obviously, we’re excited to play a match, and to get the season started is always fun, but it’s one match. We need to get better and we will, but this was a good starting spot.”
Nine Irish student-athletes saw action in the match, with both freshmen Josh Hagar and Eddy Covalschi earning their first Notre Dame victories at the No. 3 and No. 6 spots, respectively.
“I think it was a good win for all of us because it established how we want to compete the whole season,” explains senior captain Greg Andrews. “With any coaching change, obviously there are going to be adjustments, to get that first win under our belt is a good confidence builder for the season.”
Notre Dame locked up the doubles point over the Tribe within 45 minutes, with each match going to six instead of the traditional eight-game pro-set from the beginning the season through mid-February. The No. 2 doubles team of senior Billy Pecor and sophomore Eric Schnurrenberger was the first off the court, defeating Ben Guthrie and Addison Appleby, 6-4. The No. 1 team, Andrews and sophomore Alex Lawson (ranked 21st in the country) beat Aaron Chaffee and Will Juggins, 6-3. The No. 3 team of senior Matt Dooley and Hagar had an unfinished match, but were leading 5-5 (1-0) Ben Hoogland and John Banks.
Senior Ryan Bandy was the first off the court, beating Guthrie, 6-1, 6-2, in the No. 2 spot. Covalschi and junior Wyatt McCoy both finished next within minutes of each other. Covalschi took down Niguet, 6-3, 6-0 in the No. 6 spot and McCoy beat Juggins at No. 4, 6-3, 6-1, officially clinching the match for the Irish.
At No. 1, Andrews beat Hoogland, 6-4, 6-2. Hagar defeated Chaffee, 6-4, 6-4 at No. 3 and Schnurrenberger finished off Appleby 6-3, 6-4 at No. 5.
Notre Dame continues its opening weekend on Sunday with a doubleheader against Western Michigan at noon and Toledo at 6 p.m. Live stats and results will be available here at UND.com
Singles
1: No. 22 Greg Andrews (ND) def. Ben Hoogland (WM), 6-4, 6-2.
2: Ryan Bandy (ND) def. Ben Guthrie (WM), 6-1, 6-2
3: Josh Hagar (ND) def. Aaron Chaffee (WM), 6-4, 6-4
4: Wyatt McCoy (ND) def. Will Juggins (WM), 6-3, 6-1
5: Eric Schnurrenberger (ND) def. Addison Appleby (WM), 6-3, 6-4
6: Eddy Covalschi (ND) def. Damon Niquet (WM), 6-3, 6-0
Order of Finish: 2, 6, 4, 1, 3, 5
Doubles
1: No. 21 Greg Andrews/Alex Lawson (ND) def. Aaron Chaffee/Will Juggins (WM), 6-3
2: Billy Pecor/Eric Schnurrenberger (ND) def. Ben Guthrie/Addison Appleby (WM), 6-4
3: Matt Dooley/Josh Hagar (ND) led Ben Hoogland/John Banks (WM), 5-5 (1-0) (unfinished)
Order of Finish: 2, 1
–Lauren Chval, Media Relations Assistant
–ND–