March 4, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's tennis team concluded its weekend of action with tremendous effort that culminated in a victory against Utah. The Boilers played at home at the Lafayette Sports Center and overwhelmed the Utes with a 7-2 victory. With its victory today, the Lady Boilers improved to 5-4 on the season.
"I was very happy with the way our kids fought through difficult matches today," Purdue head coach Mat Iandolo said. "In our singles matches, we lost five of our six first sets, and to battle back through adversity was a testament to this team's mentality. Our five wins in the singles were a credit to our conditioning. Our current effort should serve us well down the road. It would have been easy to let down after a very emotional match yesterday with Kentucky, but we did a good job and didn't let up."
Leading the team as they charged to victory was seniors Jennifer Embry and Shannon Taheny. Embry, of Houston, Texas came back at No. 1 singles with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 hard fought battle against Megan Dorny. Taheny also had a huge effort to win 6-7, 6-4, 6-0 over Cassie Kasteler of Utah. Erika Quebe, an Indianapolis, Ind. native, won 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 in a nail-biter against her opponent, Irini Kotoglou. The phenomenal freshman, Melissa Iqbal overpowered Linn Ronnberg 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 for her singles point. At No. 5 singles, Lynsey Fick got the better of her Utah opponent, Frida Kareld, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 for the victory.
"I was very happy with the play and effort of our seniors, Jen Embry and Shannon Taheny," Iandolo said. "With their singles victories and No. 1 doubles effort they gave this team great senior leadership. The effort of Erika Quebe was also exceptional. She fought through adversity as she saved three match points in the process of coming back for the victory. Another come from behind win was Lynsey Fick's match. She came back also and her win was awesome. I was very proud of the effort from all our players."
The Boilers won two of the doubles matches. For the No. 1 doubles point, Embry and Taheny joined to finish off the Utah team of Wilkinson and Kasteler, 8-4 for the win. Fick and Quebe teamed up at the No. 2 doubles spot and won 8-5 over Dorny and Ronnberg. Due to the injury of Lisa Walgenbach, sophomores Jennifer Saviano and Kate Teder got the opportunity to play at No. 3 doubles. Although they couldn't finish it out and the Utes grabbed its only doubles point.
The Boilers will be back on the courts on March 11 as they travel to Indiana University for an interstate rivalry of Big Ten competitors.
Purdue 7, Utah 2
Singles
No. 1 Jennifer Embry (PU) def. Megan Dorny (UT) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 Shannon Taheny (PU) def. Cassie Kasteler (UT) 6-7, 6-4, 6-0
No. 3 Erika Quebe (PU) def. Irini Kotoglou (UT) 3-6, 6-1, 7-5
No. 4 Melissa Iqbal (PU) def. Linn Ronnberg (UT) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
No. 5 Lynsey Fick (PU) def. Frida Kareld (UT) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
No. 6 Anna Stechert (UT) def. Lisa Walgenbach (PU) 6-1, 2-6, 7-6
Doubles
No. 1 Embry/Taheny (PU) def. Wilkinson/Kasteler (UT) 8-4
No. 2 Fick/Quebe (PU) def. Dorny/Ronnberg (UT) 8-5
No. 3 Kareld/Kotoglou (UT) def. Jennifer Saviano/Kate Teder (PU) 8-1