Bob Larson's Tennis News | MTN: Irish Men's Tennis Falls To Michigan, 4-1, In NCAA First Round

Irish Fall To Michigan, 4-1, In NCAA First Round
Brett Helgeson won his singles match for the Irish.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Irish men’s tennis team was defeated by Michigan in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Championship, 4-1. The Irish conclude the 2009 campaign with a 13-13 record, while the win pushes Michigan’s record to 14-14 on the year.

Michigan took the doubles point to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the overall match. Peter Aarts and Mike Sroczynski downed David Anderson (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) and Daniel Stahl (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) at third doubles, 8-3. The point was then decided at second doubles where Stephen Havens (Cincinnati, Ohio/Hills Christian) and Casey Watt (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) took on Michigan’s Chris Madden and Andrew Mazlin. Havens and Watt cut the Wolverine duo’s lead to 4-5, but ended up on the wrong side of a 8-4 decision. At first doubles, 30th-ranked Brett Helgeson (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley West) took on 53rd-ranked Jason Jung and George Navas. Navas and Jung jumped out to a 6-4 lead, but the Irish cut their lead to one at 7-6 before the match was stopped with the doubles point already being decided.

The Wolverines took a 2-0 lead when Drew Daniel beat Davis at sixth singles 7-5, 6-4. The Irish then got on the board at first singles when 31st-ranked Helgeson took out 93rd-ranked Jung in straight sets. Helgeson won the first set 6-3. In the second set, Jung led 6-5, but Helgeson was able to tie the set at 6-6 before prevailing 7-6. Helgeson now has a 13-10 singles record on the dual season. Two of his 13 wins have come against Jung.

Michigan took a 3-1 lead when Madden downed Stahl in three sets. Madden took the first set 6-3 and Stahl rebounded to take the second set 6-1. In the third set, Madden got out to a 2-0 lead and held on to win, 6-2.

Michigan’s Mazlin clinched the match with a three-set win over Havens at second singles. Havens took the first set 6-3 before dropping the second and third sets by identical scores of 6-4.

With the match clinched, the matches at third and fifth singles were not finished. At third singles, Watt was knotted at 2-2 in the third set versus Michigan’s Sroczynski. Watt had won the second set 7-5 after dropping the first set 7-6. At fifth singles, Anderson trailed Navas 3-1 in the third set. Anderson had won the first set, 6-0, before dropping the second set 7-5.

Helgeson’s season continues, as he will participate in the 64-player singles draw at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center in College Station, Texas on May 20-25. Texas A&M University will serve as the host. For more details on Helgeson’s run at the NCAA Championship, check back with und.com. The complete NCAA singles and doubles draws can be found at NCAA.com.

Tennis Match Results
Notre Dame vs. Michigan
May 8, 2009 at Columbus, Ohio
NCAA First Round
#35 Michigan 4, #29 Notre Dame 1

Singles Competition
1. #31 Brett Helgeson (UND) def. #93 Jason Jung (UM) 6-3, 7-6
2. Andrew Mazlin (UM) def. Stephen Havens (UND) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. Mike Sroczynski (UM) vs. Casey Watt (UND) 7-6, 5-7, 2-2, unfinished
4. Chris Madden (UM) def. Daniel Stahl (UND) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
5. George Navas (UM) vs. David Anderson (UND) 0-6, 7-5, 3-1, unfinished
6. Drew Daniel (UM) def. Tyler Davis (UND) 7-5, 6-4

Doubles Competition
1. #53 Jason Jung/George Navas (UM) vs. #30 Brett Helgeson/Tyler Davis (UND) 7-6, unfinished
2. Chris Madden/Andrew Mazlin (UM) def. Stephen Havens/Casey Watt (UND) 8-4
3. Peter Aarts/Mike Sroczynski (UM) def. David Anderson/Daniel Stahl (UND) 8-3

Match Notes
Notre Dame 13-13; National ranking #29
Michigan 14-14; National ranking #35
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,1,4,2)