March 27, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue men's tennis team is all smiles this evening, as it opened up its Big Ten road season with an impressive 5-2 victory over Penn State in Happy Valley. With the win, the 47th-ranked Boilers improve to 10-2 overall, 2-0 in the Big Ten, while the 68th-ranked Nittany Lions fall to 9-4 overall, 1-1 in the conference. The loss snaps a four-match winning streak for Penn State.
"I was very pleased with our preparation both in practice, and our focus and intensity right up to the match," Purdue coach Tim Madden said. "The team seems to be taking Big Ten Tennis very seriously. We have gotten stronger, and we had something to prove today without a player or two in the lineup."
Purdue was without the services of its ace, Cris James, who did not make the trip due to a re-aggravation of a shoulder injury he sustained over Christmas break.
Purdue got things rolling early, as the Boilers picked up the doubles point on the strength of victories by senior Derek Myers and freshman Laith Al-Agba at No. 1 doubles and senior Jamie Gordon and sophomore Dan Swan at the No. 2 spot. With the wins, the tandem of Myers/Al-Agba improve to 10-3, while the duo of Gordon/Swan now stand at 9-2.
In singles action, Purdue swept the first four slots to seal the win. Picking up wins for the Old Gold and Black included Myers at No. 1, Gordon at No. 2, sophomore Jason Marshall and junior Cade Lutz at No. 3 and No.4, respectively.
The Boilermakers will have little time to savor the victory, as they play Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.
SINGLES
1. Derek Myers (PU) d. Mike Griesser (PSU) 6-3, 6-22. Jamie Gordon (PU) d. Marc Dorfman (PSU) 6-1, 6-23. Jason Marshall (PU) d. Eric Meditz (PSU) 3-6, 6-4, 7-64. Cade Lutz (PU) d. Jeff Martini (PSU) 6-2, 6-15. Jamie Gresh (PSU) d. Evan Hays (PU) 6-2, 7-66. Marc McCallister (PSU) d. G.T. Cozad (PU) 6-0, 6-3
DOUBLES
1. Myers/Al-Agba (PU) d. Meditz/Dorfman (PSU) 8-32. Gordon/Swan (PU) d. Martini-Accardi (PSU) 8-5 3. McCallister/Griesser (PSU) d. Marshall/ Miller (PU) 8-5