Oct. 24, 2006
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Junior Sheeva Parbhu and senior Ryan Keckley outlasted top-seed and 26th-ranked Slavko Radman and Damar Johnson of Louisville, 9-8 (5), in the finals of the ITA Midwest Regional Championships Tuesday at the University of Minnesota. Parbhu was not able to complete a sweep as he lost in the singles final to Steven Moneke of Ohio State, 7-6 (2), 6-2.
Parbhu and Keckley, the tournament’s second seed, won five straight matches to reach the final. The Irish duo had cruised into the finals, but was taken to the brink by their BIG EAST opponents.
Parbhu and Keckley are the first Notre Dame doubles team to capture the ITA Midwest Regional Championship since Brian Patterson and Jakub Pietrowski in 1997. Parbhu and Keckley are just the fourth Irish duo to ever win the event.
Parbhu moved into the final match of the singles draw for the second straight year after beating Devin Mullings of Ohio State, 7-6 (2), 6-4. However, Parbhu, who lost to teammate Stephen Bass in last year’s championship match, was not able to overcome Moneke in the final.
Parbhu and Keckley guaranteed themselves a berth in the main draw of the second grand slam of the season, the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships at The Ohio State University’s Racquet Club of Columbus. As a finalist, Parbhu also earned a spot in the singles draw.
Singles – Main Draw
(2) Sheeva Parbhu (ND) def. Devin Mullings (OSU); 7-6 (2), 6-4
Steven Moneke (OSU) def. (2) Sheeva Parbhu (ND); 7-6 (2), 6-2
Doubles – Main Draw
(2) Keckley/Parbhu (ND) def. (1) Radman/Johnson (UL); 9-8 (5)
— ND —