Jan. 29, 2005
Jan. 29, 2005
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's tennis team suffered a 4-3 loss to No. 18 Tennessee at the Lafayette Sports Center on Saturday. The 47th-ranked Boilermakers are 0-1 to start the 2005 spring season.
Purdue found itself in a hole after Tennessee claimed the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. The Boilermakers rallied in singles, however. Despite a loss by senior Shawna Zuccarini at No. 3, Purdue reeled off victories in the next two matches that came off the court; sophomore Hala Sufi beat Sabita Maharaj 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1, and senior Lara Burgarello defeated Ghizela Schutte 6-4, 6-2 at No. 6.
Tennessee then stopped the Boilermakers' win streak with a win at No. 4, but freshman Stephanie Wooten tied the score at 3-all with a win over Lady Vol Bryce Marable 6-1, 6-4 at No. 2.
The outcome of the match came down to No. 5 singles. Purdue senior Amy Walgenbach lost a three-set match to Tennessee's Melissa Schaub 3-6, 6-4, 7-6.
Purdue head coach Mat Iandolo, who has never beaten Tennessee during his time with Purdue, hoped for a different ending, but was pleased with his team's performance.
"I can't say enough about our one-two punch. Hala and Steph just did unbelievable today," says Iandolo. "The kid who Steph beat at No. 2 is one of the best freshman in the country. She's starting to show the kinds of things that make her a special player."
Tomorrow Purdue will face DePaul. The Boilermakers are ready for the competition and know the areas on which they will need to make improvements.
"We have to do a better job tomorrow in being more aggressive in doubles," says Iandolo. "If we can be more aggressive in the doubles I think it can go a long way in us securing the doubles point."
Sufi also was pleased with how the team competed and is ready to face the Blue Demons.
"I think we played as a team really well. Tennessee is a good team, and it was going to be a tough match no matter what," says Sufi. "This match was a really good way to prepare for the season because it was a hard one right off the bat. I think we're ready for tomorrow."
#18 Tennessee 4, #47 Purdue 3
Singles
1. Hala Sufi (PU) def. Sabita Maharaj (UT) 6-1, 6-0
2. Stephanie Wooten (PU) def. Bryce Marable (UT) 6-1, 6-4
3. Blakeley Griffith (UT) def. Shawna Zuccarini (PU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Vicky Jones (UT) def. Alyssa Rodriguez (PU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Melissa Schaub (UT) def. Amy Walgenbach (PU) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 *
6. Lara Burgarello def. Ghizela Schutte (UT) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
1. Maharaj/Robards (UT) def. Burgarello/Zuccarini (PU) 8-6
2. Sufi/Rodriguez (PU) def. Marable/Griffith (UT) 8-3
3. Schaub/Schutte (UT) def. Minna/Wooten 8-1
Order of singles finish: 3, 1, 6, 4, 2, 5
Order of doubles finish: 3, 2, 1
* Denotes match-clinching win.
Purdue: 0-1 Tennessee: 1-2
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