The No. 21 Irish split two matches over spring break, opening with a 5-2 victory over the USTA Junior National Team in Boca Raton, Fla., before falling to Kentucky later in the week.
Senior Dan Stahl won his fourth straight singles match (6-1, 1-6 and 6-2) over Hunter Harrington in a three-set duel. Irish coach Bobby Bayliss said Stahl's performance throughout the year has been a highlight of the team's season.
"Dan [Stahl] has matured as a player and person and has become one of our strongest points this year," Bayliss said. "He has made a remarkable transformation from a junior player who had very few national level wins to a very solid college player capable of winning against any team in the country."
The Irish claimed the doubles point, with junior Niall Fitzgerald and sophomore Spencer Talmadge defeating Luca Corintelli and Nikko Madregallego 8-4 in the No. 1 doubles match. Seniors Stephen Havens and David Anderson lost to Harrington and Ronnie Schnyder 8-5 in No. 2 doubles.
Senior Tyler Davis and freshman Greg Andrews earned the win in No. 3 doubles to secure the point for Notre Dame.
After defeating the USTA Junior team, the Irish fell to No. 14 Kentucky in their second match of the break.
The highlight of the match was Stahl's 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 47 Alex Musialek to bring his winning streak to five. Bayliss said he was impressed with Stahl's win.
"Dan [Stahl] played very intelligently against Musialek and mixed in aggressiveness and patience while staying in the proper patterns to win comfortably in straight sets," Bayliss said.
Despite Stahl's victory, the Wildcats took control of the match by winning the doubles point with victories in the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles matches.
Kentucky swept the remaining singles matches, including a loss by No. 1 singles player Stephen Havens. The Irish lost the match 5-1.
The Irish return to the courts this Sunday, as they host Florida and Dayton with first serve at 12 p.m at the Eck Tennis Center.
