TU Men's Tennis Edges Notre Dame, 4-2

NewsOn6.com and TulsaHurricane.com

TULSA, OK -- The 12th-ranked Tulsa men's tennis team defeated 32nd-ranked Notre Dame, 4-2, in the first round of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships on Saturday afternoon at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.

LSU advanced to the second round with a 4-3 win over 20th-ranked Texas Tech.

Tulsa grabbed the 4-2 victory when senior Arnau Brugues, ranked 10th nationally, defeated 20th-ranked Brett Helgeson in a thrilling No. 1 singles match, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. After winning the first set 6-4, Brugues was up 3-0 in the second set only to see Helgeson rally to win six of the next seven games to capture the second set, 6-4. Brugues, a three-time All-American, kept his composure and won the third set 6-2, to seal the Tulsa win.

"It happens sometimes (losing a 3-0 set lead)," said Senior Arnau Brugues. "It wasn't that I was playing bad or missing shots, Helgeson played a great set. I just put it behind me and focused on winning the third set."

The Hurricane earned the early doubles point when fourth-ranked Arnau Brugues and Philip Stephens defeated 37th-ranked Tyler Davis and Brett Helgeson, 8-4, in the No. 1 position, and Alberto Sottocorno and Ashley Watling knocked off Niall Fitzgerald and Matt Johnson, 8-4, in No. 3 doubles.

Tulsa picked up its crucial remaining singles wins from senior Alberto Sottocorno who defeated Casey Watt, 6-3, 6-4, in the No. 4 spot, and Victor Kolik who beat Stephen Havens, 6-2, 6-4, in No. 2 singles.

The Hurricane will play for the opportunity to advance to final round of 16 of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships when the face No. 16 LSU at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.