Sept. 13, 2007
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s tennis team had a pair of players ranked among the top 100 in singles and a doubles’ team ranked among the top 40 after the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) released its pre-season rankings. Senior Sheeva Parbhu (Omaha, Neb.) and junior Brett Helgeson (Overland Park, Kan.) were listed 30th and 66th, respectively, while the tandem of Parbhu and fellow senior Andrew Roth (Houston, Texas) were ranked 32nd.
Parbhu, the Irish captain, finished last year with a 29-12 record and was 54th in the final ITA national singles rankings. He qualified for the NCAA Singles Championship for the second consecutive year. Parbhu, who was eliminated in three sets by eventually national champion Somdev Devarrman of Virginia, advanced to the quarterfinals of the singles championship in 2006 and was named an All-American. He also was the first Notre Dame men’s player since 1959 to reach the NCAA Singles Championship quarterfinals.
Parbhu, who ranks 10th all-time in career wins, enters his senior season just six victories shy of 100 for his career. He would become the ninth Irish men’s tennis player to ever surpass the 100-victory total.
Helgeson, who ascended as high as 94th in the ITA rankings a year ago, was one of three Notre Dame players to eclipse 30 victories in 2006-07. He ended the year with a 31-7 overall record and 23-4 mark in dual action. Helgeson spent most of the dual season at the No. 3 position, going 19-4. He finished the season riding a seven-match winning streak. Helgeson enters his junior year with a 54-18 overall career mark and 39-14 in dual matches.
Parbhu and Roth have never actually played a doubles match together, but each has excelled in doubles over their respective career. Parbhu has 57 career doubles wins to his credit, while Roth has 44. Parbhu and recently graduated Ryan Keckley rose to seventh in the ITA rankings a year ago and qualified for the NCAA Doubles Championship. Roth has recorded an even more impressive record in dual action, going 30-11 in doubles, including a 21-4 mark in 2006-07.
Notre Dame went 26-4 in 2007 and reached the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 for the second consecutive year. The victories were the most for an Irish squad since 1980-81 when Notre Dame registered a school record 27 victories (27-9).
The Irish open the season this weekend with the Olympia Fields Country Club (OFCC)/Fighting Illini Intercollegiate Tennis Invitational hosted on the clay courts of OFCC in Olympia Fields, Ill., Sept. 14-16. Action will begin each day at 9:00 a.m.
— ND —