March 3, 1999

EAST LANSING, Ind. - Freshman Andrew Laflin rallied from a 3-6, 1-4 deficit for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Chris Struck at No. 4 singles to lead the 24th-ranked Notre Dame men's tennis team to its 10th consecutive win over Michigan State with a 4-3 win over the 53rd-ranked Spartans on Wednesday in East Lansing, Mich. The Irish won the doubles point and split the six singles matches to improve to 9-4 while Michigan State falls to 2-4.

Junior All-American Ryan Sachire, senior Brian Patterson and Laflin gave the Irish wins in their singles matches. The second-ranked Sachire improved to 28-5 this year with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Trey Eubanks at No. 1 singles. Patterson won his seventh straight match with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Ivica Primorac at No. 2 singles. Laflin's win was his third match-clinching victory of the season and improved his 1999 record to 11-0.

Michigan State's Ken Kigongo beat Matt Daly 7-5, 6-2 at No. 2 singles, Francisco Trinidad beat Casey Smith 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) and Todd Kosta beat Andy Warford 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 at No. 6 singles for the Spartans three points.

The Irish won the doubles point with a tiebreaker win at No. 1 doubles. Patterson and Sachire held off set points against them in their 9-8 (7-3) win over 12th-ranked Kigongo and Trinidad to clinch the doubles point. Trent Miller and Warford beat Mark Jacobson and Kosta 8-1 at No. 3 doubles. Eubanks and Struck beat Daly and Smith 8-5 at No. 2 doubles.

Notre Dame returns to the court on Sat., March 13, when the Irish travel to Miami (Fla.) for a 1:00 p.m. match in their first outdoor match of the year.

#24 NOTRE DAME 4, #53 MICHIGAN STATE 3
Singles
No. 1: #2 Ryan Sachire (ND) def. Trey Eubanks (MSU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 2: Brian Patterson (ND) def. Ivica Primorac (MSU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 3: Ken Kigongo (MSU) def. Matt Daly (ND) 7-5, 6-2
No. 4: Andrew Laflin (ND) def. Chris Struck (MSU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
No. 5: Francisco Trinidad (MSU) def. Casey Smith (ND) 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4)
No. 6: Todd Kosta (MSU) def. Andy Warford (ND) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

Doubles
No. 1: Patterson/Sachire (ND) def. #12 Kigongo/Trinidad (MSU) 9-8 (3)
No. 2: Eubanks/Struck (MSU) def. Daly/Smith (ND) 8-5
No. 3: Trent Miller/Warford (ND) def. Mark Jacobson/Kosta (MSU) 8-1