Feb. 18, 2005

EVANSTON, Ill. - 40th-ranked Northwestern (5-4, 1-0 Big Ten) captured the doubles point against 23rd-ranked Notre Dame Friday night to take an early 1-0 advantage, but the Wildcats could not carry that momentum into singles competition, where the Fighting Irish claimed five matches for the overall 5-2 victory.

Senior Tommy Hanus (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) and junior Adam Schaechterle (Oconomowoc, Wis/Kettle Moraine) continued to dominate in doubles with a 8-5 win against Langenkamp and Parbhu at the No. 2 spot. Hanus and Schaechterle hold a team-best 7-2 record in doubles.

Sophomore Willy Lock (Lima, Peru/Markham College) and senior Justin Hoeveler (Ross, Calif./The Branson School) earned their first victory of the year together at the No. 3 position, beating Buchanan and King, 8-5.

After the break though, the Fighting Irish came back to win five of six singles matches to improve to 9-2 on the year.

At No. 1, Hanus earned his fifth dual victory of the season with a straight-set 7-6, 7-6 win over Brent D'Amico. Hanus' season record moves to 8-6, including fall competition.

The `Cats return to Combe Tennis Center for a 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19 against 56th-ranked Oregon.

Notre Dame 5, Northwestern 2

Doubles
No. 1 - D'Amico/Ryan Keckley (ND) defeat Perrin/Tempke (NU), 8-4
No. 2 - Hanus/Schaechterle (NU) def. Langenkamp/Parbhu (ND), 8-5
No. 3 - Lock/Hoeveler (NU) def. Buchanan/King (ND), 8-5

Singles
No. 1 - Tommy Hanus (NU) def. Brent D'Amico (ND), 7-6, 7-6
No. 2 - Stephen Bass (ND) def. Chuck Perrin (NU), 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 - Barry King (ND) def. Christian Tempke (NU), 6-3, 6-0
No. 4 - Sheeva Parbhu (ND) def. Willy Lock (NU), 6-7, 7-6, 1-0
No. 5 - Irackli Akhvlediani (ND) def. Adam Schaechterle (NU), 6-4, 6-4
No. 6 - Patrick Buchanan (ND) def. Matt Christian (NU), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3

Doubles Order of Finish - 1, 3, 2*
Singles Order of Finish - 5, 2, 3, 1, 6*, 4
* - indicates clinching victory