March 17, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. –
The No. 29 Notre Dame men’s tennis team lost a thriller in Tampa, Fla., on Saturday, falling to BIG EAST rival USF, 4-3, at USF Varsity Courts.
The Irish fall to 12-7 (0-1 BIG EAST) and are away from competition until March 31 when they play host to Ball State in a 1 p.m. match.
Against the Bulls, Notre Dame dropped the doubles point, losing matches at one and two. Senior Sam Keeton and sophomore Billy Pecor pulled out the lone doubles win with an 8-1 triumph over Lucas Marin-Salcedo and Sebastian Hagn.
In singles, Casey Watt, Pecor and Niall Fitzgerald won at one, four and five singles, respectively, but the Irish couldn’t overcome the doubles point setback, as two singles players lost in three sets.
No. 42 Greg Andrews fell to Yannick Yoshizawa, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6, while Keeton lost to Federico Sabogal, 6-0, 3-6, 6-4.
In all, three singles matches went to three sets.
USF 4, ND 3
March 17, 2012
USF Varsity Courts
Tampa, Florida
Doubles
1. Y. Yoshizawa/O. Pramming (USF) def. No. 49 Casey Watt / Niall Fitzgerald (ND) 8-5
2. F. Sabogal/W. Kilani (USF) def. Greg Andrews / Spencer Talmadge (ND) 8-2
3. Sam Keeton / Billy Pecor (ND) def. L. Marin-Salcedo/S. Hagn (USF) 8-1
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles
1. Casey Watt (ND) def. Wael Kilani (USF) 7-5, 6-3
2. Yannick Yoshizawa (USF) def. No. 42 Greg Andrews (ND) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6
3. Federico Sabogal (USF) def. Sam Keeton (ND) 6-0, 3-6, 6-4
4. Billy Pecor (ND) Juan Carlos Acuna Gerard (USF) 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Niall Fitzgerald (ND) def. Lucas Marin-Salcedo (USF) 6-2, 6-3
6. Oliver Pramming (USF) def. Michael Moore (ND) 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 5, 6, 1, 3, 2, 4
–ND–