The Hokies triumph over No. 17 Notre Dame in upset victory at homeThe Hokies triumph over No. 17 Notre Dame in upset victory at home
Men's Tennis

The Hokies triumph over No. 17 Notre Dame in upset victory at home

Ilyas Fahim's defeat over the 15th-ranked singles player was the clinching moment in the Hokies' Sunday afternoon victory.

Opens in a new window Pledge Per Opens in a new window Stay Connected Box Score (PDF)

BLACKSBURG – The Hokies complete upset over No. 17 Notre Dame 4-1, Sunday in Blacksburg. This marks the Hokies’ highest-ranked victory since 2019 when the squad also defeated then-ranked No. 16 Notre Dame. 

The exciting match was clinched on Court No. 1, with junior Ilyas Fahim defeating No. 15 Sebastian Dominko, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to clinch the victory for the Hokies. Falling in the first set, Fahim battled back in a tiebreaker in the second set, and claimed control of the court in the final set, sealing his victory. 

The Hokies got off to a strong start by claiming the doubles point. After the Hokies fell on Court No. 3, Fahim and Patrik Jurina secured a 6-4 victory to even the field. Blake Hilsen and Eyal Shumilov fought to a 7-5 win over No. 47 Luis Llorens Saracho and Peter Nad to clinch the doubles point for Tech. 

Shumilov jumped ahead quickly in his match, grabbing a 6-0 first-set win. He notched the Hokies’ second point of the match, winning 6-0, 6-4. 

Notre Dame claimed Court No. 4 in a three-set contest, but the Hokies continued to fight. 

Senior Julian Lozano went up 6-4 in the first set, then fought a closely-contested second set. In a back-and-forth battle in the tiebreaker, Lozano pushed ahead from a deficit to defeat his opponent 6-4, 7-6 (9-7). 

Not long after Lozano’s victory, Fahim clinched the match on Court No. 1, completing the Hokies’ 4-1 triumph Sunday afternoon. 

Hilsen had a third-set advantage (6-3, 3-6, 4-3) at the match’s completion.

UP NEXT: The Hokies wrap up their regular season at home for senior day as they take on No. 4 Virginia at 4:30 p.m. at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center.

Results: 

Singles:

  1. Ilyas Fahim (VT) def. #15 Sebastian Dominko (ND) 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 
  2. Patrik Jurina (VT) vs. #72 Perry Gregg (ND) 6-7 (3-7), 4-5, unfinished 
  3. Eyal Shumilov (VT) def. Giuseppe Cerasuolo (ND) 6-0, 6-4 
  4. Peter Nad (ND) def. Drew Fishback (VT) 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 
  5. Julian Lozano (VT) def. Kyran Magimay (ND) 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) 
  6. Blake Hilsen (VT) vs. Luis Llorens Saracho (ND) 6-3, 3-6, 4-3, unfinished 

Doubles:

  1. Blake Hilsen/Eyal Shumilov (VT) def. #47 Luis Llorens Saracho/Peter Nad (ND) 7-5 
  2. Ilyas Fahim/Patrik Jurina (VT) def. Sebastian Dominko/Perry Gregg (ND) 6-4 
  3. Noah Becker/Nick Patrick (ND) def. Drew Fishback/Frank Thompson (VT) 6-3 

Match Notes: 

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,4,5,1)