SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s tennis team faced the #1 team in the country in their lone match of the weekend. Ohio State, who came in having won the ITA National Indoor Championships last week, was too much to overcome as the Irish fell 7-0 to the best team in the rankings.
Competitive doubles was played at the #1 and #3 positions but it was not enough to get the point. The duo of Noah Becker and Nil Giraldez at #3 was in a servers battle as both teams combined to hold nine times before a late break in the final game, combined with the win at #2 doubles, would give the Buckeyes the doubles point. Sebastian Dominko and Jean-Marc Malkowski, having just saved two match points and holding serve to stay in the match, would be abandoned tied at 5-5.
In singles, three matches would go the distance and thirds sets would decide those matches. Dominko, coming in at #28 in the ITA National Singles Rankings, responded after dropping the first set and force a third against his opponent who is ranked #26 in the country. but ultimately he fell 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Giraldez forced a final set against the #37 player in the country at #2 singles and Chase Thompson, playing #16 in the country at the #4 spot, both forced third sets as well but dropped their contests.
Up Next:
Conference play is on the horizon as Notre Dame will host their first two ACC opponents next weekend. On Friday, March 1st at 5 p.m., the Miami Hurricanes will be in South Bend. Then on Sunday, Florida State will be the first opponent at noon followed by Cleveland State capping off a three-match weekend.
Box Score
#55 Notre Dame 0 – #1 Ohio State 7
Doubles
- Dominko/Malkowski(ND) vs. Cash/Nakashima(OSU) 5-5 DNF
- Kingsley/Tracy(OSU) def. Lee/Thompson(ND) 6-2
- Boulais/Bernard(OSU) def. Becker/Giraldez(ND) 6-4
Order of Finish(2, 3)
Singles
- #26 Kingsley(OSU) def. #28 Dominko(ND) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
- #37 Boulais(OSU) def. Giraldez(ND) 6-2, 4-6, 6-0
- #3 Tracy(OSU) def. Corsillo(ND) 6-1, 6-1
- #12 Anthrop(OSU) def. Thompson(ND) 6-3, 6-7(), 1-0(5)
- #111 Cash(OSU) def. Malkowski(ND) 6-2, 6-4
- #100 Bernard(OSU) def. Magimay(ND) 6-1, 6-4
Order of Finish(3, 6, 5, 1, 2, 4)