Women's Tennis Loses Heartbreaker to Wisconsin

April 24, 1999

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Despite a big win by junior Jennifer Embry, the Purdue women's tennis team dropped a heartbreaking 4-3 decision to Wisconsin in Madison today. The loss brought the Boilers' record to 7-14 (3-6 Big Ten), while the Badgers improved to 9-11 (7-2 Big Ten).

"This was another great match that we just came up short on," Purdue coach Mat Iandolo said. "We had our chances but couldn't make the most of them."

One of those chances came in doubles action, as the Boilers fell just shy of capturing the first point to start off the match. The sophomore pair of Lisa Walgenbach and Erika Quebe knocked off Debbie Reynolds and Katie Dougherty 8-5 in the No. 3 slot, but the Badgers' No. 2 team of Andrea Nathan and Dena Baritot rallied from a 4-1 deficit to defeat junior Shannon Taheny and freshman Lynsey Fick 8-4. The clinching point came as Purdue's 22nd-ranked team of Embry and freshman Missy Wright surrendered an extra-game affair 9-7 to Barbara Urbanska and April Gabler at No. 1.

Embry came through in singles, though, providing a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 upset over Urbanska, the Big Ten's highest ranked player in the ITA national rankings at No. 38. That win moved Embry, the 48th-ranked player in the nation, into a tie for sixth on Purdue's all-time singles victories list with 65.

Taheny and Fick delivered, as well, with Taheny defeating Gabler 7-6, 6-3 at No. 3, and Fick downing Dougherty 6-3, 7-6 at No. 6.

But the match was already decided by that point, as a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 win by Baritot over Walgenbach at No. 4 clinched the Badger victory.

Purdue will play Iowa in its final match of the regular season tomorrow in Iowa City.

SINGLES

1. Jennifer Embry (PU) def. Barbara Urbanska (UW) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 2. Andrea Nathan (UW) def. Erika Quebe (PU) 6-1, 6-2 3. Shannon Taheny (PU) def. April Gabler (PU) 7-6, 6-3 4. Dena Baritot (UW) def. Lisa Walgenbach (PU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 5. Debbie Reynolds (UW) def. Missy Wright (PU) 6-2, 6-2 6. Lynsey Fick (PU) def. Katie Dougherty (UW) 6-3, 7-6

DOUBLES

1. Urbanska/Gabler (UW) def. Embry/Wright (PU) 9-72. Nathan/Baritot (UW) def. Fick/Taheny (PU) 8-43. Walgenbach/Quebe (PU) def. Reynolds/Dougherty (UW) 8-5