April 9, 2005
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - For the first time since March 21, 1998, a Purdue-Michigan women's tennis match was decided by more than one point. Purdue won that match 6-1, and won the meeting with the Wolverines on Saturday at the Varsity Tennis Courts by a 6-1 score.
Purdue improved to 6-10 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten with the win, while Michigan dropped to 8-9 and 3-3.
Purdue, coming off a 4-3 loss to No. 49 LSU on Wednesday, got off to a good start against the 38th-ranked Wolverines. The 58th-ranked Boilermakers won the doubles point behind victories from the sophomore pair of Hala Sufi and Alyssa Rodriguez, and the freshman duo of Brooke Beier and Stephanie Wooten.
Before Michigan could score a single point, Purdue had the match in hand. Senior Shawna Zuccarini came off the singles court first, with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Kara Delicata at No. 3. Beier followed suit, defeating Leanne Rutherford 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4. Sufi, ranked 99th in the nation, provided the clinching win, with 6-3, 6-4 upset of 53rd-ranked Michelle DaCosta.
Senior Amy Walgenbach beat Nina Yaftali 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 at No. 6 for Purdue's fifth point. Michigan finally got on the board with a win at No. 2, but Rodriguez closed out the contest with another Boilermaker win at No. 5, as she rallied from a set down to knock off Debra Streifler 4-6, 7-6, 6-3.
Zuccarini said determination proved to be the key to Purdue's success over the Wolverines.
"We came into this match knowing we'd have to fight our tails off, and we did that on every court," Zuccarini said. "You could see that we wanted to win. It was obvious on every court."
Purdue head coach Mat Iandolo was not surprised with the outcome of the match, despite being ranked 20 spots lower than Michigan in the latest ITA national poll.
"I know what we're capable of," Iandolo says. "This match shows what can happen when everyone plays with a lot of determination."
Purdue now is determined to beat Michigan State. The Boilermakers and Spartans will meet Sunday at the Varsity Tennis Courts at 11 a.m.
"We need to be ready to play because they are capable of beating us if we don't play hard," Iandolo said of Michigan State.
Zuccarini agrees.
"We have to fight as hard or harder than we did today. We have to take it to them," Zuccarini said.
#58 Purdue 6, #38 Michigan 1
Singles
1. #99 Hala Sufi (P) def. #53 Michelle DaCosta (M) 6-3, 6-4 *
2. Elizabeth Exon (M) def. Stephanie Wooten (P) 6-3, 6-4
3. Shawna Zuccarini (P) def. Kara Delicata (M) 6-2, 6-4
4. Brooke Beier (P) def. Leanne Rutherford (M) 6-2, 6-3
5. Alyssa Rodriguez (P) def. Debra Streifler (M) 4-6, 7-6, 6-3
6. Amy Walgenbach (P) def. Nina Yaftali (M) 6-3, 4-6, 10-8
Doubles
1. #21 DaCosta/Delicata (M) def. Lara Bugarello/Zuccarini (P) 8-2
2. Beier/Wooten (P) def. Rutherford/Allie Shafner (M) 8-1
3. Rodriguez/Sufi (P) def. Exon/Streifler (M) 8-6
Order of singles finish: 3, 4, 1, 6, 2, 5
Order of doubles finish: 2, 1, 3
* Denotes match-clinching win.
Purdue: 6-10 (3-2 Big Ten)
Michigan: 8-9 (3-3 Big Ten)
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