SOUTH BEND, Ind. – No. 13 Northwestern performed well late but fell short in a competitive 4-1 match against Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., on Friday night.
The 51st-ranked duo of Dominik Starý and Strong Kirchheimer got proceedings underway with a dominating win at No. 2, beating the duo of Grayson Broadus and Brendon Kempin 6-1. It was their twelfth victory on the season.
Notre Dame then took the decision at No. 3 doubles to set up a crucial finish at the No. 1 spot. NU's Konrad Zieba and Sam Shropshire eventually fell to one of the best pairs in the country in No. 6 Eddy Covalschi and Josh Hagargive to give the Fighting Irish the doubles point in the match.
No. 40 Konrad Zieba was a scratch at No. 2 singles, moving up Nos. 3-6 up a position while Brenden Volk joined the lineup for the second time in his career.
Wins by Matt Gamble and Guillermo Cabrera at No. 5 and No. 6 singles over Jason Seidman and Brenden Volk, respectively helped Notre Dame open up a 3-0 lead.
Chicago's Big Ten Team would come roaring back. Starý won his match in straight sets at No. 3 singles to get the 'Cats on the board. The win gives the freshman an impressive 15-4 record on the year.
The three remaining matches each went to the final set, with Northwestern threatening to complete the comeback.
No. 2 and No. 4 singles were each separated by just a single game. Ben Vandixhorn led 6-5 for NU, and Shropshire trailed Covalschi 4-3 as the visitors looked to tie the match.
In No. 1 singles, 28th-ranked Kirchheimer took the first set before No. 44 Hagar would edge him out in the second to send it to a final frame. The two battled it out, but Hagar came out on top, 6-3, to take the point and give the Fighting Irish the win, 4-1.
The loss drops the No. 13 Wildcats to 10-4 on the season, while Notre Dame improves to 8-3.
NU will continue its tough schedule when it hosts No. 8 Oklahoma State at noon on Sunday, followed by UIC at 6:30 p.m. Both matches will take place at the Combe Tennis Center.
The match against OSU will be the teams' second meeting in ten days. Northwestern will look to avenge a close loss to the Cowboys in a 4-2 thriller at the ITA Indoors.
Notre Dame 4, #13 Northwestern 1
Singles
No. 1 – #44 Josh Hagargive (ND) def. #28 Strong Kirchheimer (NU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3*
No. 2 – Sam Shropshire (NU) vs. Eddy Covalschi (ND), 4-6, 7-6, 3-4 (unfinished)
No. 3 – Dominik Starý (NU) def. Alex Lebedev (ND), 6-4, 6-4
No. 4 – Ben Vandixhorn (NU) vs. Grayson Broadus (ND), 6-4, 6-7, 6-5 (unfinished)
No. 5 – Matt Gamble (ND) def. Jason Seidman (NU), 6-1, 6-4
No. 6 – Guillermo Cabrera (ND) def. Brenden Volk (NU), 6-1, 6-4
Order of Finish: 5, 6, 3, 1*
Doubles
No. 1 #6 Eddy Covalschi / Josh Hagargive (ND) def. Konrad Zeiba / Sam Shropshire (NU), 6-3*
No. 2 #51 Strong Kirchheimer / Dominik Starý (NU) def. Grayson Broadus / Brendon Kempin (ND), 6-1
No. 3 – Matt Gamble / Alex Lebedev def. Chris Ephron / Ben Vandixhorn (NU), 6-2
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1*
The 51st-ranked duo of Dominik Starý and Strong Kirchheimer got proceedings underway with a dominating win at No. 2, beating the duo of Grayson Broadus and Brendon Kempin 6-1. It was their twelfth victory on the season.
Notre Dame then took the decision at No. 3 doubles to set up a crucial finish at the No. 1 spot. NU's Konrad Zieba and Sam Shropshire eventually fell to one of the best pairs in the country in No. 6 Eddy Covalschi and Josh Hagargive to give the Fighting Irish the doubles point in the match.
No. 40 Konrad Zieba was a scratch at No. 2 singles, moving up Nos. 3-6 up a position while Brenden Volk joined the lineup for the second time in his career.
Wins by Matt Gamble and Guillermo Cabrera at No. 5 and No. 6 singles over Jason Seidman and Brenden Volk, respectively helped Notre Dame open up a 3-0 lead.
Chicago's Big Ten Team would come roaring back. Starý won his match in straight sets at No. 3 singles to get the 'Cats on the board. The win gives the freshman an impressive 15-4 record on the year.
The three remaining matches each went to the final set, with Northwestern threatening to complete the comeback.
No. 2 and No. 4 singles were each separated by just a single game. Ben Vandixhorn led 6-5 for NU, and Shropshire trailed Covalschi 4-3 as the visitors looked to tie the match.
In No. 1 singles, 28th-ranked Kirchheimer took the first set before No. 44 Hagar would edge him out in the second to send it to a final frame. The two battled it out, but Hagar came out on top, 6-3, to take the point and give the Fighting Irish the win, 4-1.
The loss drops the No. 13 Wildcats to 10-4 on the season, while Notre Dame improves to 8-3.
NU will continue its tough schedule when it hosts No. 8 Oklahoma State at noon on Sunday, followed by UIC at 6:30 p.m. Both matches will take place at the Combe Tennis Center.
The match against OSU will be the teams' second meeting in ten days. Northwestern will look to avenge a close loss to the Cowboys in a 4-2 thriller at the ITA Indoors.
Notre Dame 4, #13 Northwestern 1
Singles
No. 1 – #44 Josh Hagargive (ND) def. #28 Strong Kirchheimer (NU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3*
No. 2 – Sam Shropshire (NU) vs. Eddy Covalschi (ND), 4-6, 7-6, 3-4 (unfinished)
No. 3 – Dominik Starý (NU) def. Alex Lebedev (ND), 6-4, 6-4
No. 4 – Ben Vandixhorn (NU) vs. Grayson Broadus (ND), 6-4, 6-7, 6-5 (unfinished)
No. 5 – Matt Gamble (ND) def. Jason Seidman (NU), 6-1, 6-4
No. 6 – Guillermo Cabrera (ND) def. Brenden Volk (NU), 6-1, 6-4
Order of Finish: 5, 6, 3, 1*
Doubles
No. 1 #6 Eddy Covalschi / Josh Hagargive (ND) def. Konrad Zeiba / Sam Shropshire (NU), 6-3*
No. 2 #51 Strong Kirchheimer / Dominik Starý (NU) def. Grayson Broadus / Brendon Kempin (ND), 6-1
No. 3 – Matt Gamble / Alex Lebedev def. Chris Ephron / Ben Vandixhorn (NU), 6-2
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1*