March 27, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's tennis team lost its first match in the month of March with a 5-2 loss to No. 38 Iowa on Saturday at the Varsity Tennis Courts. The 45th-ranked Boilermakers fall to 6-7(1-1 Big Ten) for the year.
Purdue lost the doubles point and the momentum that goes along with it. Junior Shawna Zuccarini and freshman Hala Sufi picked up the lone doubles victory at No. 2, 8-3. At No. 1 the senior team of Gretchen Haynor and Melissa Woods were defeated 8-0 and at No. 3 Freshman Alyssa Rodriguez and Junior Lara Burgarello lost 8-3.
The Boilermakers needed four singles wins to take the match, but came up short. Though the outcome was not in their favor, the Boilermakers did have a bright spot. Junior Amy Walgenbach, whom has been in a slump, was the first off the court today with a solid 6-0, 6-1 victory over Iowa's Zhukova at No. 3.
"Amy played great today and turned her match around playing with a ton of confidence and bite," assistant coach Chris Karges-Iandolo said.
The second victory for the Boilermakers came from Woods at the No. 6 spot whom won 4-6, 7-6, 1-2. The match concluded early as her opponent Hilary Tyler called the match on injury.
At No. 2 Sufi lost a hard fought match in three sets to Hillary Mintz 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Haynor at No. 1, Rodriguez at No. 4, and Zuccarini at No. 5 all lost in straight sets.
Next up, Purdue faces Minnesota on Sunday, March 28th at the Varsity Tennis Courts. Play is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. EST.
"Minnesota is a great match for us," Karges-Iandolo said. "We are looking for everyone to step up, be resilient and take care of business right from the start."
-P-