March 4, 2002
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's tennis team began its Big Ten season on a positive note, defeating Iowa 4-3 in Iowa City on Saturday. The victory avenged a 4-3 loss to the Hawkeyes in the 2001 conference opener.
Purdue head coach Mat Iandolo was pleased with his team's performance in a close match on the road.
"This is a big win for us," Iandolo said. "We had some people step up and play very well on a hostile court. This will give us a lot of momentum as we continue the Big Ten season, and also will give us confidence the next time we play on the road."
Purdue won the doubles point, sweeping all three matches. Junior Missy Wright and sophomore Gretchen Haynor teamed up for an 8-6 win at No. 1. Senior Lynsey Fick and sophomore Melissa Woods won 9-7 at No. 2, and junior Melissa Iqbal and freshman Lara Burgarello won 9-8 at No. 3.
Haynor and Burgarello won singles matches at No. 2 and No. 5 before freshman Shawna Zuccarini delivered the clinching victory at No. 4.
Purdue is now 3-4 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers next host Illinois on Mach 9 and Northwestern on March 10.
PURDUE 4, IOWA 3Singles1. Toni Neykova (I) def. Melissa Iqbal (P) 6-0, 6-12. Gretchen Haynor (P) def. Steffi Hoch (I) 6-2, 6-03. Cassie Haas (I) def. Melissa Woods (P) 6-3, 6-14. Shawna Zuccarini (P) def. Deni Alexandrova (I) 6-1, 6-7, 6-25. Lara Burgarello (P) def. Pascale Veraverbeke (I) 6-0, 6-26. Jennifer Hodgman (I) def. Lynsey Fick (P) 6-4, 6-1Doubles1. Missy Wright/Haynor (P) def. Neykova/Alexandrova (I) 8-62. Fick/Woods (P) def. Hoch/Veraverbeke (I) 9-73. Iqbal/Burgarello (P) def. Haas/Gloria Okino (I) 9-8(3)
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