![]() ![]() ![]() Freshman Kelvin Lam, already a key contributor, attacks with rocket forehands, deft volleys, and crafty net play. Sophomore Shaun Chaudhuri grinds down opponents from the baseline and covers the entire court with extraordinary speed. The team’s diverse playing styles means there is something for everyone to like. More importantly, Nguyen has stepped up when the team needs him most, winning 75 percent of his matches when asked to play at the second or third line. The team’s one senior, Andy Nguyen, has the best record on the team at 22-7 and is part of the team’s second best doubles lineup. Last spring, the team graduated four seniors that led the team to a second round loss in the NCAA tournament nine of the twelve players on this year’s roster are either freshmen or sophomores. Currently on a 12-game winning streak, the team has a good chance to finish the Ivy League season undefeated and win the league outright. There are plenty of storylines to choose from with this team. Coach Dave Fish has built a dominant team in 2013, one that is worthy of your full support as the calendar turns from April into May. The easy answer here might be Tommy Amaker’s squad, but this isn’t another men’s basketball column. The last time it played in the NCAA end-of-season tournament, it upset a big state school in the first round. Team X won its first five conference games of this season and its biggest conference rival is Princeton. The 2012-2013 version of Team X has only one main senior contributor, with freshmen and sophomores carrying the team. In the last two years, Team X made a historic entry into the top 25 and rode a wave of momentum to upset a top-25 team in regular season tournament play. If you think Team X is Harvard football, close, but no cigar. A solid start in and out of the conference buoyed expectations for a team that people didn’t expect to be better than last year’s squad. Team X won an Ivy League title last year. For example, let’s take a random team-call it Harvard team X-and let’s look at what it’s done in the past couple seasons. Ryan Bandy (ND) def.On a campus with the most varsity sports in the country, it is easy to overlook the achievements of certain teams. Nicolas Mahlangu / Alex Steinroeder (H) def. Alex Lawson / Billy Pecor (ND) led Nicky Hu / Andy Nguyen (H), 6-5, unfinishedģ. 51 Greg Andrews / Spencer Talmadge (ND), 8-5Ģ. However, Mahlangu stormed back to take the final three games and clinch the match for the Crimson, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5.ġ. 120 Wyatt McCoy took a 5-4 lead in the third set, just one game away from an Irish victory. 80 Andrews swept Chauduri in the third set to earn the 6-3, 7-5, 6-0 win and even the match at three wins apiece. Just like the Northwestern match, the Irish needed to win both contests to claim the win, but ended up losing in similar fashion. 5 singles as both matches went to three sets. In an eerily similar finish to Tuesday night against the Wildcats, the contest with the Crimson came down to action at No. 88 Pecor at four, 7-5, 6-2, while Steinroeder topped No. Harvard quickly stormed back with wins at four and two. The Irish then took a 2-1 lead as Quentin Monaghan bested Hu 6-4, 6-4 at three. The singles competition went down to the wire with Harvard clinching the match with wins at two, four and five but not without a fight from the Irish.īandy got the comeback started at six with a 6-2, 6-2 straight-sets win over Kelvin Lam. Alex Lawson and Billy Pecor held a slim 6-5 lead at two over Nicky Hu and Andy Nguyen when the match was called. ![]() 51 combo of Greg Andrews and Spencer Talmadge, 8-5, at one to claim the point. Nicolas Mahlangu and Alex Steinroeder swept Ryan Bandy and Matt Dooley, 8-0, at three and Shaun Chaudhuri and Casey MacMaster snuck past the No. The Crimson won the doubles point in impressive fashion to take a 1-0 lead. Notre Dame closes out the ITA Kick-Off Weekend Sunday when it meets either No. In both contests Notre Dame lost the doubles point and had the match come down to the one and five singles positions, with the opposition clinching the match at five. Instead they suffered a tough loss in similar fashion. 37 Northwestern Tuesday night at Eck Tennis Pavilion. The Irish went to Oklahoma looking to bounce back from a 4-3 loss to No. 28 Harvard, 4-3, at the Gregg Wadley Indoor Tennis Pavilion. 30 University of Notre Dame men’s tennis team suffered its second heartbreak of the week Saturday as the Irish fell to No. ![]()
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