Sept. 29, 2006
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Ryan Keckley and Stephen Bass each picked up victories in singles and doubles to lead the Notre Dame men’s tennis team in first day action from the Wolverine Invitational. The Irish split their four doubles matches and their eight singles matches.
Keckley and doubles’ partner Santiago Montoya opened the day with an 8-4 victory over George Navas and Steve Peretz of Michigan. Keckley and Montoya were playing together for the first time this season.
Keckley followed up that performance with a 6-0, 6-4 straight set victory over Kevin Hayward of Western Michigan. With the victory, Keckley improved to 4-1 on the season and 46-21 over his career.
Bass and Andrew Roth held off Peter Aarts and Scott Bruckmann of Michigan, 9-7. The match was the first for Bass and Roth together this season, but evened their career doubles record at 2-2.
Bass, ranked No. 21 in the preseason ITA poll, knocked off Piotr Dilaj of Boise State, 6-3, 7-5. Bass improved to 1-0 on the season and 74-35 for his career.
Brett Helgeson and Barry King dropped their match, 8-6, to Ryan Heller and Andrew Mazlin of Michigan. Irackli Akhvlediani and Sean Corrigan also lost their match. Brian Hung and Matt Parks defeated Akhvlediani and Corrigan, 8-3.
King and Corrigan each posted straight set victories. King whipped Eric Roberson of Boise State, 6-3, 6-3, while Corrigan got past Alejandro Staub of Western Michigan, 6-2, 6-2, for his first collegiate victory.
Helgeson, Akhvlediani, Roth and Montoya dropped their matches. Roth and Montoya were each the victim of three-set defeats. John Pelton of Western Michigan edged Roth, 7-6, 1-6, 6-4, while Bryan Norville of Western Michigan slipped past Montoya, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Notre Dame returns to action Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. with doubles action against the team comprised of Boise State and Western Michigan. The Irish then faces Michigan in singles play at 12:30 p.m.
Doubles
Ryan Heller/Andrew Mazlin (UM) def. Brett Helgeson/Barry King (ND), 8-6
Santiago Montoya/Ryan Keckley (ND) def. George Navas/Steve Peretz (UM), 8-4
Stephen Bass/Andrew Roth (ND) def. Peter Aarts/Scott Bruckmann (UM), 9-7
Brian Hung/Matt Parks (UM) def. Irackli Akhvlediani/Sean Corrigan (ND), 8-3
Singles
Barry King (UND) def. Eric Roberson (BSU), 6-3, 6-3
#21 Stephen Bass (UND) def. Piotr Dilaj (BSU), 6-3, 7-5
Alex Birchmeier (WMU) def. Brett Helgeson (UND), 6-2, 6-1
Ryan Keckley (UND) def. Kevin Hayward (WMU), 6-0, 6-4
Brent Werbeck (BSU) def. Irackli Akhvlediani (UND), 6-4, 6-3
John Pelton (WMU) def. Andrew Roth (UND), 7-6, 1-6, 6-4
Bryan Norville (WMU) def. Santiago Montoya (UND), 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4
Sean Corrigan (UND) def. Alejandro Staub (WMU), 6-2, 6-2
— ND —