Irish split tough weekend series
JOE LINDSLEY
Sports Writer
After suffering several close 4-3 defeats to strong teams this spring, the Irish finally registered their first big win of the season — without the services of one of their top players.
Sunday, Notre Dame defeated No. 48 Virginia Tech 5-2, and with the victory the Irish (6-9, 1-0), moved into first place in the Big East. This came one day after the Irish suffered a 6-1 loss to No. 12 Minnesota Saturday.
The Hokies were the first Big East opponents for the Irish, and Notre Dame will meet its second, and last, regular season conference opponent when the team travels to No. 22 Miami Mar. 30.
The Hurricanes lost to the Hokies 5-2 in Miami earlier in the season, so the Irish are especially pleased with the weekend's accomplishment. For the second match in a row, Notre Dame was also without junior tri-captain Matt Scott, its No. 2 singles player, because he became ill during Saturday's match with Minnesota.
The Irish began the afternoon when the bottom two teams claimed the doubles point. The No. 2 pair of senior Brian Farrell and junior Luis Haddock won 8-6 over Angel Diankov and Grant Reynolds to clinch the point. Sophomore Paul McNaughton replaced Scott in the No. 1 doubles match. McNaughton and D'Amico lost 8-2 to the Hokies' Andreas Lauland and Stephane Rod.
After three singles matches were completed the score was tied 2-2 with the remaining matches all straight sets.
Senior Brian Farrell registered his first ever upset of a ranked player when he defeated No. 64 Saber Kadiri to put the Irish within a point of victory.
Farrell survived three sets to come out on top, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. Then freshman Patrick Buchanan came through with the clinch for the Irish. Playing the No. 5 flight, he topped Michael Kurz, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
With the contest settled, Haddock triumphed over the Hokies' Francis Huot, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Then sophomore Brent D'Amico, playing at No. 2 for just the second time in his career, commanded Laulund in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
Saturday the Irish fell to 1-6 in the Eck Tennis Pavilion after going 10-0 there last season. Haddock posted the sole singles victory for Notre Dame when he defeated No. 63 Thomas Haug. Haddock was also part of the only winning Irish doubles team. Along with Farrell, he beat Eric Robertson and Avery Ticer, 8-3.
All Sports Stories for Monday, March 24, 2003
