Cardinals Fall to Notre Dame

Thursday, February 25

LOUISVILLE, KY

3:00 PM

University of Louisville

NOTRE DAME

February 25, 2021 | Men's Tennis

Box Score

By: Kyle Echsner

Louisville Ky. – The University of Louisville men's tennis team fell 4-1 to Notre Dame Thursday evening at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center. The Cardinals drop to 4-4 (0-3, ACC) while Notre Dame improves to 6-6 (0-3, ACC).

The Irish (6-6) took the doubles point to start the match by winning on courts one and two. No. 19 Richard Ciamarra and Axel Nefve defeated Louisville's Matthew Fung and Fabien Salle 6-3 on court one. Brandon Ancona and Tristian McCormick topped Sergio Hernandez and Tin Chen 6-3 on court two.

The Cardinals quickly responded in singles with Salle upsetting No. 6-ranked Ciamarra in straight sets on court two 6-3, 6-2. Notre Dame bounced back with a win on court five, Connor Fu dropped Fung 7-5, 6-3 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

No. 71 Chen fought hard against Nefve on court one, but fell 6-3, 6-4, extending the Irish's lead to 3-1.

The final three courts each went to third sets. However, Notre Dame clinched the match on court three with McCormick taking down Hernandez. Hernandez won his first set 6-2, but fell 7-5, 6-3 in his next two sets.

Courts four and six each were abandoned with Cardinals leading. On court four, Howard-Tripp led Che 7-5, 6-4, 2-1 and on court six, Wesbrooks led Ancona 7-5, 6-4, 4-3.

"Although we didn't get the result we wanted, I was proud of the guys today," said Rodrigo da Silva. "The guys are competing really well, we've just got to keep the positive attitude and keep playing hard."

Up Next: The Cardinals are back in action tomorrow at 4 p.m. as they face ACC foe Boston College at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.

Notre Dame 4, Louisville 1
2/25/2021 at Louisville, Ky.
(Bass-Rudd Tennis Center)
Singles
1. Axel Nefve (ND) def. #71 Tin Chen (LOU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Fabien Salle (LOU) def. #6 Richard Ciamarra (ND) 6-3, 6-2
3. Tristan McCormick (ND) def. Sergio Hernandez (LOU) 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
4. Josh Howard-Tripp (LOU) vs. Matthew Che (ND) 7-5, 4-6, 2-1, unfinished
5. Connor Fu (ND) def. Matthew Fung (LOU) 7-5, 6-3
6. Alex Wesbrooks (LOU) vs. Brandon Ancona (ND) 5-7, 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
Doubles
1. #19 Richard Ciamarra/Axel Nefve (ND) def. Matthew Fung/Fabien Salle (LOU) 6-3
2. Brandon Ancona/Tristan McCormick (NDMTEN) def. Sergio Hernandez/Tin Chen (LOU) 6-3
3. Josh Howard-Tripp/Alex Wesbrooks (LOU) vs. Matthew Che/Jean-Marc Malkowski (ND) 5-5, unfinished
Match Notes:
Notre Dame Men's Tennis 6-6
Louisville Men's Tennis 4-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,5,1,3)
T-2:30