Irish strength tested in recent games with top teams
By RACHEL BIBER
Sports Writer
If adversity builds strength, than the Irish should be as strong as steel. After facing five Top-25 teams in their last seven matches and three Top-10 teams in their last five matches, the 29th-ranked Irish men's tennis team is set to take on another national powerhouse when they travel to Ann Arbor on Thursday to take on the 26th-ranked Michigan Wolverines.
Notre Dame suffered three straight losses at the hands of highly ranked North Carolina, Duke and Texas to fall to 9-8 on the season. The Irish have not picked up a win since its 5-2 victory over the UAB Blazers on March 18.
"I believe that makes you better," Irish head coach Bob Bayliss said. "I talked to the team about it. When you put iron in the fire it gets soft, and when it hardens it becomes steel. That's the analogy we're using with our team - we've been tested and we've really held up pretty well and I think we've been unlucky not to have won more of those matches. So it's time to start reaping the benefits of the competitive schedule that we've played."
The Irish will be forced to shuffle their regular lineup against the Wolverines because of the absence of Javier Taborga who is out with soreness in his wrist. Taborga has teamed with Aaron Talarico at No.1 doubles all season to amass a 15-7 record and a No. 30 ranking. Bayliss is confident that seniors Ryan Sachire and Trent Miller will be able to fill in.
"We've brought Trent and Ryan up to one doubles," Bayliss said. "They've done awfully well at No. 2 doubles and we think they are good enough to play one and hold their own."
Miller and Sachire have accumulated a 12-8 record on the year at No. 2 doubles with wins in 10 of their last 13 matches. Bayliss plans to pair Talarico with Matt Daly to take the spot of Miller and Sachire in the No. 2 position.
Tenth-ranked Sachire also leads the Irish in the singles lineup, and will most likely match up against the Wolverine's 68th-ranked Matt Wright. With four more wins, Sachire would become the first Irish player under Bayliss to compile at least 30 singles wins in all four years of play. He currently stands at 26-9 on the year, and has won 36 of his last 43 dual singles matches at No. 1.
Michigan hobbles into the competition against the Irish after suffering two close loses to Big-Ten foes Indiana and Purdue and falling to 9-5, while its No. 1 singles player Wright recovers from a back injury.
The Irish will look to take advantage of the faltering Wolverines, who fell from No. 20 in the rankings to No. 26, by bringing an offensive style of attack to the court.
"They're all a little bit slow," Bayliss said. "So one of the keys will be to be able to play up in the court to take advantage of their lack of speed."
Notre Dame and Michigan will meet for the 59th time in history, with the Wolverines leading the all-time series 39-19. However, the Irish have beaten Michigan in 10 of the last 11 meetings, including a 6-1 victory last year in South Bend.
After their match up against the Wolverines, the Irish will close out the regular season at 49th-ranked Ball State on Saturday. Notre Dame has won 26 of 31 meetings against Ball State, including 11 straight wins over the Cardinals.
"Both matches concern me," Bayliss said. "I think they are both winnable if we play well. I think we are certainly capable of winning both."
All Sports Stories for Thursday, April 13, 2000
