Feb. 17, 2007
CHICAGO – The No. 9 Notre Dame men’s tennis team blanked Penn, 4-0, in a consolation match from the USTA/ITA National Men’s Team Indoor Championships Saturday afternoon. The Irish improve to 7-2 on the season and will face No. 18 Texas in another consolation match on Sunday at 9:00 a.m.
Notre Dame captured the doubles point in pretty convincing fashion. Sophomore Brett Helgeson (Overland Park, KS) and senior Barry King (Dublin, Ireland) opened doubles action with an 8-4 victory over Mikhail Bekker and Brandon O’Gara. Helgeson and King, who dropped their match yesterday against Pepperdine, improved to 14-6 overall and 6-3 in dual matches.
Senior Ryan Keckley (South Bend, IN) and junior Sheeva Parbhu (Omaha, NE), ranked #11 in the last ITA national poll, clinched the 1-0 lead for Notre Dame. The duo upended Eric Riley and Jason Pinsky, 8-6. Keckley and Parbhu, whom also lost yesterday, upped their record to 19-5 overall and 5-4 in dual action.
Senior Stephen Bass (Bronxville, NY) and junior Andrew Roth (Houston, TX) led their match at No. 3 doubles over Justin Fox and Jonathan Boym, 8-7, before it was halted.
With the 1-0 lead, Notre Dame wasted no time and put the match away with three consecutive, straight-set victories at No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4.
Keckley, who dropped a three-set affair on Friday after winning the opening set, took his frustration out on Joseph Lok, 6-1, 6-2. Keckley improved to 14-3 overall and 7-1 in dual matches.
Helgeson was nearly as dominant at No. 3. The sophomore knocked off Bekker, 6-2, 6-3. He now stands 15-4 overall and 7-1 in dual action.
Bass clinched the victory for the Irish with his straight-set triumph at No. 1. He defeated Jason Pinsky, 6-2, 6-4, to register his team-best 18th victory of the season. Bass is now 18-8 overall and 7-2 in dual matches.
Parbhu, King and Roth all were up a set when their matches were stopped.
#9 NOTRE DAME 4, PENN 0
Singles
*1. Stephen Bass (ND) def. Jason Pinsky (PENN) 6-2, 6-4
2. Sheeva Parbhu (ND) vs. Jonathan Boym (PENN) 7-6 (7-3), 0-1, unfinished
3. Brett Helgeson (ND) def. Mikhail Bekker (PENN) 6-2, 6-3
4. Ryan Keckley (ND) def. Joseph Lok (PENN) 6-1, 6-2
5. Barry King (ND) vs. Justin Fox (PENN) 6-3, 3-4, unfinished
6. Andrew Roth (ND) vs. Adam Schwartz (PENN) 6-2, 5-4, unfinished
Doubles
*1. Ryan Keckley/Sheeva Parbhu (ND) def. Eric Riley/Jason Pinsky (PENN) 8-6
2. Brett Helgeson/Barry King (ND) def. Mikhail Bekker/Brandon O’Gara (PENN) 8-4
3. Stephen Bass/Andrew Roth (ND) vs. Justin Fox/Jonathan Boym (PENN) 8-7, unfinished
Order of Finish
Doubles (2,1)
Singles (4,3,1) * clinched point/match
— ND —