February 21, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Spanning over a year, the Purdue men's tennis team is a perfect 14-0 when playing on their home courts. The Boilers kept this perfect streak alive along with a spotless 6-0 record in '99 when they defeated Northern Illinois 5-2 today at the Lafayette Sports Center to finish up a three-match weekend for the team.
"Our objective was to gain confidence this weekend and I think it is very high right now," Purdue coach Tim Madden said. "This weekend is a great opportunity to see everyone in singles and doubles. It helps our team chemistry and guys feel that they can really contribute."
In each of the three matches this weekend Purdue combined for a different line-up and a new No. 1 singles player. Today senior Derek Myers (14-5) got the call and the captain was up to the test. Myers in his four-year career has never played in the top spot, but that did not show through as he eased to a straight-set win over Augusto Cantone, 6-2, 6-0.
"I am thrilled," Myers said. "I'm playing the best tennis of my life right now. I have done a lot more drill work to improve my game and get the thinking out of it. I just want to get down to the fundamentals and get in the mindset of drill work which will help me stay calm and focused."
In the No. 2 slot, Purdue's Jamie Gordon was a winner. The senior captain improved to 13-5 on the year with the win over Suhel Malhotra 6-2, 6-4.
Northern Illinois capitalized in the No. 3 and 4 spots, by picking up wins in both matches. Boiler freshman Derek Miller fell to Wolfgang Oswald 6-3, 7-6 while classmate Laith Al-Agba lost to Jon Perlman 6-4, 7-6.
Junior Evan Hays picked up the Boilers' winning ways with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Brent Sitarski in the No. 5 spot, while No. 6, Tushaar Gautam, beat Nick Gryfakis 6-0, 7-5.
With today's four singles wins the Boilers comprised an 18-3 singles record on the weekend and the today's three doubles-match victories helped post a mark of 9-0.
Freshman and senior teamed up to win at the No. 1 doubles position. The tandem of Miller and Myers proved lethal for the Northern Illinois duo of Cantone and Oswald as Purdue came out on top with an 8-2 win. In the No. 2 slot, the same philosophy worked when senior Gordon and newcomer Al-Agba defeated the team of Malhotra and Sitarski 8-2. Junior G.T. Cozad saw some action as the Chesterfield, MO., native teamed up with Hays to complete the sweep and defeat Northern Illinois' team of Perlman and Gryfakis 8-2.
Next on the schedule for Purdue, the Boilers will head south to the warm weather and tough competition as they travel to Gainesville to face nationally-ranked Florida Feb. 27 at noon.
"We earned a tougher schedule this year and the challenge is there if we want to take it," Madden said."
Purdue 5, Northern Illinois 2
SINGLES
1. Derek Myers (PU) def. Augusto Cantone (NI) 6-2, 6-02. Jamie Gordon (PU) def. Suhel Malhotra (NI) 6-2, 6-43. Wolfgang Oswald (NI) def. Derek Miller (PU) 6-3, 7-64. Jon Perlman (NI) def. Laith Al-Agba (PU) 6-4, 7-65. Evan Hays (PU) def. Brent Sitarski (NI) 6-2, 6-06. Tushaar Gautam (PU) def. Nick Gryfakis 6-0, 7-5
DOUBLES
1. Myers/Miller (PU) def. Cantone/Oswald (NI) 8-22. Gordon/Al-Agba (PU) def. Malhotra/ Sitarski (NI) 8-13. Cozad/Hays (PU) def. Perlman/Gryfakis (NI) 8-2