April 27, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The seventh-seed Purdue women's tennis team jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead to hold off a late charge from 10th-seeded Penn State to earn a 4-2 victory Thursday and advance to the second round of the tournament.
"We did a good job on what we sat out to do," Purdue head coach Mat Iandolo said. "We wanted to win doubles and take charge of the match. The doubles point gave us the edge we needed to claim the win."
Purdue earned the doubles point with wins from its No. 2 and No. 3 doubles squads. The Boilermakers' young No. 2 tandem of freshman Melissa Iqbal and sophomore Lynsey Fick keyed the run with an 8-5 win over Rebecca Ho and Martina Kopacova. At No. 3 spot, Lisa Walgenbach and Erika Quebe defeated Judy Wang and Teresa Whiteside 8-4, to claim the point for Purdue.
In singles action, Jennifer Embry quickly defeated Pilar Montgomery 6-1, 6-1. Iqbal followed her lead by winning at No. 3 singles 6-4, 6-4 over Ali Barnett. It was Quebe at the No. 4 who clinched the match for Purdue, winning in the third set over Wang, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
With the win, the Boilers advance to the second round of action to face second-seeded Illinois. The match will begin at 10 a.m.
Purdue 4, Penn State 2
Singles
1. Jennifer Embry (PU) def. Pilar Montgomery (PSU), 6-1, 6-1
2. Rebecca Ho (PSU) def. Shannon Taheny (PU), 6-2, 0-6, 6-4
3. Melissa Iqbal (PU) def. Ali Barnett (PSU), 6-4, 6-4
4. Erika Quebe (PU) def. Judy Wang (PSU), 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
5. Lisa Walgenbach (PU) vs. Martina Kopacova (PSU), abandoned
6. Janelle Perez (PSU) def. Lynsey Fick (PU), 7-5, 2-6, 7-5
Doubles
1. Embry/Taheny (PU) def. Montgomery/Barnett (PSU), abandoned
2. Iqbal/Fick (PU) def. Ho/Kopacoba (PSU), 8-5
3. Walgenbach/Quebe (PU) def. Wang/Whiteside (PSU), 8-4