WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – After a weekend off, the Purdue women's tennis team returns to the Schwartz Tennis Center for a pair of high-level matchups this weekend. The Boilermakers will open Big Ten Conference play Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m. against No. 5 Ohio State, before hosting Oklahoma on Saturday at 2 p.m.
MATCH INFORMATION
Purdue (3-5) vs. No. 5 Ohio State (6-3)
Thursday, Feb. 27 | 5 p.m.
Purdue (3-5) vs. Oklahoma (3-3)
Saturday, Feb. 29 | 2 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Stream | Season Stats (PDF)
The Boilermakers will play their first matches since appearing in the ORACLE/ITA national polls last week. Purdue was tabbed 44th in the first expanded rankings and dropped to 46th after the week off.
Purdue took both of its home matches two weeks ago. The Boilermakers won all six singles contests to top DePaul 6-1 on Feb. 14, before a 4-2 decision against Tulsa two days later.
Ena Babic improved to 7-2 in singles play this season. The Croatian international enters the week on a four-match winning streak, including wins over No. 70 Kaitlin Staines from No. 20 Tennessee and No. 84 Martina Okalova. Zala Dovnik has been an anchor in the back of the order with a 7-0 record between the fifth and sixth spots.
Ohio State has not shied away from playing tough teams to open the year with all nine of its matches coming against ranked opposition. The Buckeyes are 6-3, including wins over currently-ranked No. 4 Texas and No. 7 Duke. Shiori Fukuda (11), Irina Cantos Siemers (54) and Danielle Wolf (60) lead the Buckeyes in singles play at the top of the order. Cantos Siemers and Kolie Allen have had a strong spring to climb to 53rd in the doubles rankings.
The Sooners are 3-3 this season. After starting the year 3-1, Oklahoma dropped its last two matches to No. 11 Pepperdine and No. 29 Texas A&M. Martina Cappuro is 2-3 in dual action this spring and is ranked 76th in singles entering this weekend. Jasmine Ashgar and Oleksandra Korashvili are ranked 14th in the country in the latest doubles poll.
FOLLOW ALONGFor all the latest scores, stats and stories surrounding Purdue Women's Tennis, follow the team on Facebook (/PurdueWomensTennis), Twitter (@PurdueWTennis) and Instagram (@PurdueWTennis).