March 15, 2013
Blue Gray National Tennis Classic Information
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The No. 22 University of Notre Dame men’s tennis team kicks off the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Ala., at 12 p.m. (ET) Friday when it meets Troy.
Five ranked teams make up the eight-school field, led by the top-seeded Irish. Also ranked are No. 2 seed Cornell (No. 29), No. 3 seed Columbia (No. 34), No. 4 seed Nebraska (No. 38) and Texas Tech (No. 47). The other teams include Troy, Boise State and William & Mary.
The tournament is bracketed, with two semifinal matches held Saturday and a championship Sunday. A consolation bracket will also begin Saturday. The Irish (8-5) will play either Boise State or Nebraska Saturday in either the winner or loser’s bracket. Times for Saturday and Sunday haven’t yet been determined.
Four ranked singles players make up the field including Notre Dame junior Greg Andrews (No. 96). The others are No. 25 Andrew Bettles (Boise State), No. 34 Winston Lin (Columbia) and No. 119 Ben Guthrie (William & Mary). In doubles the Irish boast No. 69 Alex Lawson and Billy Pecor, with the other ranked team being No. 24 Ashok Narayana and Max Schnur of Columbia.
Fans can follow all three matches this weekend through live stats. UND.com will have links on the men’s tennis schedule page.
The Irish have a storied history at the event, winning team titles in 1993, 2001 and 2007. Notre Dame last competed in Montgomery in 2009 when it defeated No. 48 Mississippi State, 4-2, before falling to a pair of ranked teams in No. 22 Boise State and No. 29 Wisconsin.
Notre Dame is riding a two-match winning streak with both wins coming over ranked Big Ten foes. The Irish took down then-No. 59 Wisconsin, 5-2, in Madison March 3 before dropping then-No. 13 Illinois, 4-1, at the Eck Tennis Pavilion March 5.
The Irish return home March 20 for a big matchup with defending national champion and No. 2 Southern Cal.
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