Home season ends as Irish take on Boilermakers
By RACHEL BIBER
Sports Writer
Members of the men's tennis squad may be tapping their tennis shoes, chanting "There's no place like home."
After their last home match on Friday, they will hit the road for the remainder of the spring season. Thirty-third ranked Notre Dame is set to face off against the 59th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday before they pack up their bags and head to the home territory of the unranked Northwestern Wildcats for a match on Sunday afternoon.
Saturday's match against the Boilermakers marks the end of a spectacular home career for Notre Dame's 17th-ranked, All-American senior Ryan Sachire. He has defended the top singles court for Notre Dame for the majority of his four-year tenure, and Saturday marks the last time he will take on that duty at home. This decorated Irish athlete deserves the support and recognition of the student body as he showcases his talent for the Irish home crowd for the final time on Saturday.
As a freshman, Sachire made an immediate impact on the Notre Dame squad, eventually playing No. 1 singles and helping the Irish to become an extremely competitive team. The accolades and awards he has amassed since his freshman year are highlighted by his two All-American selections as a sophomore and junior, and finishing among the top 20 singles players in the country during the same two seasons. A thorough description of his achievements and honors would require a novel-sized list, and his influence on Irish men's tennis cannot be done justice with words.
"The example [Sachire] sets daily is as good as anyone I have ever had," Irish coach Bob Bayliss said. "He almost single-handedly pulled us, even as a freshman, to a competitive level, and has done nothing but gotten better. He has made significant improvement in his game. He is as good as anyone in college tennis."
Despite his individual fame, Sachire remains dedicated to his Irish
teammates, and has proven to be a respected and dependable leader.
"He is team-oriented first and foremost," Bayliss said. "We are not going to replace Ryan next year. We know that."
Sachire will be thinking about his last home appearance on Saturday, but leading the team to victory is his top priority.
"[Playing at home for the last time] will definitely be in the back of my mind," Sachire said. "But the most important thing is winning the match. Personally, I'll be playing a tough player, and we are going to have to play well to win."
Seniors Trent Miller and Rob Warn will also bid farewell to the Irish tennis courts. Miller will team up with Sachire in doubles, while Warn will contribute from the sideline.
"[Miller] brings a ton of effort and competitiveness to practice each day, and he is playing his best tennis right now," Bayliss said. "And we'll definitely miss [Warn]."
Purdue comes into Saturday's matchup with a 4-3 record, fresh off of an emotional 6-1 win over intrastate rival Indiana, a team Notre Dame fell to earlier this year. In recent history, the Boilermakers have needed to dig deep in order to win, and the Irish barely escaped them in their previous meeting last year with a 4-3 victory. Purdue has never been able to defeat Notre Dame.
"I am concerned [about Purdue]," Bayliss said. "And I am more concerned that we play well and do what we are capable of. It's a match that's winnable, if we show up and play our best."
Sachire will battle it out in the top spot against Purdue's Jason Marshall, whose insertion in the Boilermaker lineup has boosted the team's confidence. Boilermaker coach John Madden knows that Marshall is tough to beat.
"He constantly displays the fighting mentality I am looking for and seems to come out and control his matches every week," Madden said. "Jason is on the path to being one of the best college players around."
When the Irish head to Northwestern on Sunday, the Wildcats have the advantage of taking on the Irish on their home territory that is notorious for its unfavorable conditions. Despite those circumstances, the depth of the Irish lineup should be able to overcome any threats posed by the 3-5 Wildcats.
"It should be a good match, and we'll have to play well," Bayliss said. "We know that their No.1 player is pretty good, but I think we are a little deeper."
After a disappointing loss to the Miami Hurricanes last weekend, the 5-3 Irish are eager to regain their footing with double victory this weekend. Such an outcome can easily be foreseen, especially if junior Matt Daly proves to be healthy after being hindered by a shoulder injury throughout the season.
"[The injury] is getting better, but it is not one hundred percent yet," Daly said. "But our team attitude has been better and we're more enthusiastic this week. We're trying to get back on track."
All Sports Stories for Friday, February 25, 2000
