April 9, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue men's tennis awoke a sleeping giant in its match Sunday at No. 19 Michigan.
After shocking the Maize and Blue in doubles, the Wolverines proceeded to dismantle the Boilermakers in singles to win 6-1.
Doubles play had been a sore spot for Purdue in recent weeks, but it looks as if the team has turned the corner. The No. 2 doubles team of Jose Fuenmayor and Eric Hodgman won the dual's first point after knocking off the nation's 35th-ranked team of Ryan Heller and Andrew Mazlin, 9-7.
Purdue and Michigan split the first two doubles contests. The No. 3 duo of freshman Paul Foley and sophomore Griff Nienberg controlled George Navas and Mike Sroczynski 8-4, while the No. 1 combo of Branko Kuzmanovic and Paul Rose was edged by the nation's No. 3 tandem of Brian Hung and Matko Maravic, 8-6.
"I tell the players you have to set yourself in the fire, and either you respond to the challenge or at least learn something - we responded in doubles," said head coach Tim Madden. "That was our best doubles performance of the year top to bottom."
The Boilermakers' impressive start was quickly negated as the Wolverines won all six singles contests in straight sets.
Purdue remains on the road next weekend, playing at conference rivals Ohio State and Indiana.
Singles
No. 1 -- #68 Matko Maravic (U-M) d. Branko Kuzmanovic, 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 -- #50 Brian Hung (U-M) d. Paul Rose, 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 -- Andrew Mazlin (U-M) d. Eric Hodgman, 6-1, 6-1
No. 4 -- Ryan Heller (U-M) d. Paul Foley, 6-1, 6-1
No. 5 -- George Navas (U-M) d. Scott Warner, 6-3, 7-6(4)
No. 6 -- Steve Peretz (U-M) d. Griff Nienberg, 7-5, 6-0
Doubles
No. 1 -- #3 Hung/Maravic (U-M) d. Kuzmanovic/Paul Rose, 8-6
No. 2 -- Jose Fuenmayor/Hodgman (PU) d. #35 Heller/Mazlin, 9-7
No. 3 -- Foley/Nienberg (PU) d. Navas/Mike Sroczynski, 8-4
Order of Completion: Doubles 3-1-2, Singles 3-4-2-6-1-5