Throughout his tennis career, all Greg Andrews has done is win. He doesn't know how to do anything else.
The true freshman from Richland, Mich., has easily transitioned from one of the best prospects in the nation into a team leader for the Irish and an up-and-coming threat in the Big East.
"He's an awesome player," associate head coach Ryan Sachire said. "When we recruited him we knew he was the total package — a great high school student and tennis player."
Andrews has contributed in both singles and doubles for Notre Dame in his rookie campaign. Most recently, he and junior Casey Watt picked up the lone Irish victory in a 4-1 loss to No. 16 Illinois.
Only a year ago, Andrews was fresh off a state championship as the No. 1 singles player at Gull Lake High School. He also was a member of the National Honor Society and excelled in the classroom.
"Greg was in the top-10 of his class in the entire country and the best player coming out of the Midwest," Sachire said. "He made a lot of sense for us because of the academic and athletic fit that he brings to Notre Dame."
The freshman picked up his first career victories in his collegiate debut Sept. 17 at the Illinois Invitational. The wins were a testament to the hard work that Andrews has put in since stepping on campus for the first time less than a year ago.
"He has not disappointed at all," Sachire said. "He has a great attitude and work ethic. He's going to keep improving and getting better."
With the combination of the high ranking coming out of high school and the contributions he has made during his freshman year, the future is bright for Andrews.
"He will play an integral role in singles and doubles moving forward," Sachire said. "He is one of our most important players."
For someone as accustomed to winning as Andrews, the step up in leadership means ending the season with a championship — just like last year — is the only acceptable option. This time, however, it would come at the Big East Championships and NCAA tournament.
