Feb. 28, 2016
By Matthew D’Alonzo ’19
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Coming off of a week-long break from competition, No. 47 Notre Dame fell to No. 3 Ohio State in a battle that was closer than the final score of 5-2 indicated.
After three close matches, the doubles competition ended in Notre Dame’s favor, with strong performances earning the team the doubles point. On Court 2, Notre Dame’s team of senior Quentin Monaghan and freshman Grayson Broadus took out Ohio State’s No. 13 doubles team of Ralf Steinbach and Martin Joyce with a 6-3 decision.
On this takedown of a top-ranked doubles team, Coach Ryan Sachire said, “We have really good people playing number two doubles in Quentin Monaghan and Grayson Broadus, and in doubles, the margin of victory between opponents is usually so low. I figured we would have a chance. Quentin played great and Grayson really stepped up, and has stepped up this season.”
On Court 1, junior Eddy Covalschi and senior Alex Lawson mounted a comeback against Ohio State’s No. 19 Mikael Torpegaard and Herkko Pollanen, but Notre Dame’s team ultimately fell, 6-4.
The point then came down to Court 3, with junior Josh Hagar and senior Eric Schnurrenberger competing against Ohio State’s Hugo Di Feo and Chris Diaz. Hagar and Schnurrenberger took an early lead, but dropped two games in a row before they won their final game and clinched the doubles point for Notre Dame.
Competition began to move in Ohio State’s direction during singles competition. On Court 1, Notre Dame’s No. 40 Quentin Monaghan fell to No. 6 Mikael Torpegaard, 6-1, 6-2 and, on Court 5, Ohio State’s No. 45 Herkko Pollanen bested Schnurrenberger, in a 6-4, 6-2 decision.
Lawson swung a bit of momentum back toward the Irish on Court 3 with a win over No. 32 Diaz. Diaz blanked Lawson in the first set, but Lawson came back in dominating fashion, with a final decision of 0-6, 6-2, 6-2. Shortly afterward, on Court 2, OSU’s No. 17 Di Feo defeated Covalschi with a decision of 6-4, 6-3, giving Ohio State a 3-2 lead.
Ohio State earned the clinching point on Court 6, where Broadus fell to Joyce 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 after an exciting and back-and-forth battle. In the final match of the day, Hagar fell after an equally close match to Steinbach, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.
On the match against No. 3 Ohio State, Coach Sachire said, “Our guys went after it. Ohio State was just a little too good today. It gives us a direction of where to improve. We need to improve our tennis moving forward, but I think the way we approached the match, it was good.”
The men’s tennis team will return to the court on Thursday when the Irish travel to Boston College before returning home to face Louisville on Sunday.
No. 3 Ohio State 5, No. 47 Notre Dame 2
SINGLES
1. No. 6 Mikael Torpegaard (OSU) def. No. 40 Quentin Monaghan (ND), 6-1, 6-2
2. No. 17 Hugo Di Feo (OSU) def. Eddy Covalschi (ND), 6-4, 6-3
3. Alex Lawson (ND) def. No. 32 Chris Diaz (OSU), 0-6, 6-2, 6-2
4. Ralf Steinbach (OSU) def. Josh Hagar (ND), 2-6, 6-4, 7-5
5. No. 45 Herkko Pollanen (OSU) def. Eric Schnurrenberger (ND), 6-4, 6-2
6. Martin Joyce (OSU) def. Grayson Broadus (ND), 6-3, 4-6, 6-0
DOUBLES
1. No. 19 Mikael Torpegaard / Herkko Pollanen (OSU) def. Eddy Covalschi / Alex Lawson (ND), 6-4
2. Grayson Broadus / Quentin Monaghan (ND) def. No. 13 Ralf Steinbach / Martin Joyce (OSU), 6-3
3. Josh Hagar / Eric Schnurrenberger (ND) def. Hugo Di Feo / Chris Diaz, 6-3
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Matthew D’Alonzo is a freshman student assistant for Fighting Irish Media, working with Athletics Communications Directors for Cross Country, Track and Field, Basketball, and Tennis. A Computer Engineering/PLS Major, Matthew is from Mobile, Alabama.