April 22, 2001
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - With the doubles point in hand and two singles victories, Purdue needed just one more singles victory to defeat Michigan. The Boilermakers chances looked dim as Melissa Woods was down 4-0 at the No. 2 position, the last match of the day. But the desire to win was within the sophomore as she fought back to beat Jen Vaughn 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
"This was a really good win for myself and my team," Woods said. "I knew that it would come down to me and I had to get the win for the team. It was really exciting to pull off the victory."
Head coach Mat Iandolo shared Woods' excitement.
"I guess the adrenaline must have started pumping in Melissa," Iandolo said. "She had a great never say die attitude and that is what helped us win the match."
The season's best doubles play also helped the Boilermakers to achieve its third conference win of the year. Woods and Missy Wright paired to defeat Kim Plaushines and Vaughn at the No. 1 position. At No. 2, Lynsey Fick and Melissa Iqbal defeated Chrissie Nolan and Kavitha Tipirneni 8-5. Gretchen Haynor and Erika Quebe knocked off Jen Duprez and Szandra Fuzesi 8-3 to give Purdue the sweep of doubles.
In singles action, Haynor defeated Fuzesi decisively with a 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 3. Fick pulled off a 6-7, 6-3, 6-0 win over Duprez at No. 6. Quebe pushed her matches with Tiprineni to a third set, but could not stop the 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 loss.
Purdue now looks to the Big Ten Championships, which begin on Thursday in Columbus.
"Although we don't have a lot of wins on the season, we have continually improved as a team," Woods said. "I believe the win today will give us the confidence to go into the tournament and play well."
Purdue 4, Michigan 3
Singles
1. Kavitha Tipirneni def. Erika Quebe 5-7, 6-1, 6-3
2. Chrissie Nolan def. Melissa Iqbal 7-5, 6-1
3. Gretchen Haynor def. Szandra Fuzesi 6-2, 6-3
4. Melissa Woods def. Jen Vaughn 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
5. Joanne Musgrove def. Lisa Walgenbach6-4, 6-4
6. Lynsey Fick def. Jen Duprez 6-7, 6-3, 6-0
Doubles
1. Woods/Wright def. Kim Plaushines/Vaughn 8-6
2. Fick/Iqbal def. Nolan/Tiprineni 8-5
3. Haynor/Quebe def. Duprez/Fuzesi 8-3