WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's tennis team fell again Sunday, but its match against No. 10 Michigan was more contested than the 5-2 result suggests. The Boilermakers picked up two wins in doubles, including a 7-5 victory over the No. 2 team in the nation, and forced four sets to a seventh game in singles.
Rafaella Baquerizo and Andjela Djokovic's win over No. 2 Kate Fahey and Alex Najarian marks the first ranked opponent a Purdue tandem has beaten this season.
The Boilermakers also led the Wolverines twice inside the Schwartz Tennis Center -- the later after Caitlin Calkins convincingly defeated Annie Wierda 6-4, 6-0 on court six. The victory was the freshman's second of the season as she picked up her first Saturday against Michigan State.
At 2-1 Purdue, the Boilermakers led on courts three and four, but were unable to withstand the strength and conditioning of the Wolverines. After securing a 5-3 advantage in the first, Deborah Suarez missed on two match-points during her slide to six all. The senior was then assessed a one-point penalty in the tiebreak, which gave the game and set to Michigan. By this time, the Wolverines had secured victories on courts one and five, making Suarez's contest a must win for the Boilermakers. She was unable to rebound in the second, however, ultimately falling 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 to Mira Ruder-Hook on court four.
Baquerizo, who also led in the first set on court three, fell 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 to Alex Najarian in the last match off, moving the final score to 5-2.
Purdue continues Big Ten play against Indiana on Saturday at 10 a.m. ET.