April 7, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's tennis team fell 6-3 to 40th-ranked Marquette at the Varsity Tennis Courts today. The loss drops the Boilermakers to 5-11 (1-3 Big Ten), while the Golden Eagles improve to 14-5 with their fifth straight win.
"I feel like we came out with a lot of focus and intensity at the beginning of the match," Purdue coach Mat Iandolo said. "We just had trouble maintaining it throughout. It's something we need to improve on as we get ready to finish our Big Ten season."
Despite the team loss, junior co-captain Jennifer Embry provided a bright spot with a 6-2, 6-0 upset of 36th-ranked Elisa Penalvo at No. 1. She and freshman doubles teammate Missy Wright, who comprise the nation's 29th-ranked combo, also pulled off an upset over the 15th-ranked duo of Penalvo and Ana Fernandez, toppling the Golden Eagle pair 8-6 in the top slot.
"Jennifer came out and played great," Iandolo said. "She felt like the last couple of matches she's played she's been too negative. Her focus today was to be very positive, and she did a great job of that in both singles and doubles."
Also winning for the Boilermakers was freshman Lynsey Fick, who downed Megan Berman 6-0, 1-6, 6-3 at No. 6. This was Fick's third win in her last four matches.
This was Purdue's final non-conference match this spring. The Boilermakers return to the court this weekend when they travel to Michigan State (April 10) and Michigan (April 11).
Marquette 6, Purdue 3
SINGLES
1. Jennifer Embry (PU) def. Elisa Penalvo (MU) 6-2, 6-0 2. Ana Fernandez (MU def. Erika Quebe (PU) 6-3, 6-03. Laura Garcia (MU) def. Shannon Taheny (PU) 7-6, 6-34. Julia Sapozhnikova (MU) def. Missy Wright (PU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 5. Sara Fernandez (MU) def. Lisa Walgenbach (PU) 7-5, 7-5 6. Lynsey Fick (PU) Megan Berman (MU) 6-0, 1-6, 6-3DOUBLES
1. Embry/Wright (PU) def. Penalvo/A. Fernandez (MU) 8-62. S. Fernandez/Garcia (MU) def. Taheny/Quebe (PU) 8-23. Sapozhnikova/Christine Dimasi (MU) def. Walgenbach/Fick (PU) 9-7
Purdue: 5-11 (1-3 Big Ten)Marquette: 14-5