March 18, 2010
The 35th-ranked Purdue women's tennis team continued its spring break success in the Big Easy by knocking off Tulane 4-3 Thursday afternoon at the Goldring Tennis Center in New Orleans.
The Boilermakers (12-1) took the early lead by sweeping the doubles point for the fifth time this season. The No. 1 doubles team of senior Michelle Sammons and sophomore Jennifer Rabot defeated Mariam Kurdadze and Emma Levy 8-5. Freshman Gisella Pere and sophomore Anna Dushkina also found success by knocking off Lindsay Dvorak and Emma Helisten 8-3 at the No. 2 doubles spot. Junior Bhavani Tirumurti and freshman Imogen Golder had little trouble knocking off the No. 3 doubles team of Hila Elster and Elizabeth Hamlin 8-2 to complete the doubles sweep.
The doubles point proved crucial as Tulane (8-5) split the three singles matches with the Boilermakers. Kurdaze was able to earn a tough win in the first set on her way to a 7-5, 6-0 win over Sammons at No. 1. Rabot continued her undefeated season at No. 2 by defeating Levy 6-2, 7-5 to improve her record to 13-0 on the year. Hamlin topped Tirumurti with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 3 to earn the point for the Green Wave.
Dvorak and Dushkina battled through a tight first set before Dvorak eventually won 7-6, 6-1 at No. 4. Purdue's freshmen were able to secure two points for the Boilermakers as Golder knocked off Helisten 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5 and Pere topped Elster 7-6, 6-3. Golder improved her singles record to 10-3 while Pere now stands at 7-3 for the year.
With the win, Purdue improved its spring break record to 2-0 and has now won three in a row. The Boilermakers will play their third match in as many days Friday when they take on the Southeastern Louisiana Lions. Action is set to begin at 3 p.m. ET from the North Cyprus Fitness Center in Hammond, Louisiana.