COLUMBUS, Ohio – Coming down to the final match of singles Sunday afternoon against Utah in the final match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend, the Purdue men's tennis team picked up a hard-fought 4-3 victory.
The Boilermakers jumped out to an early lead in the doubles point. Athell Bennett and Maksymilian Raupuk put Purdue ahead in the opening stages with a 6-2 win at No. 1 against Randy Cory and Russell Benkaim. Sebastian Welch and Mateo Julio gave the Boilermakers a 1-0 lead with a 7-6 (7-4) win at No. 3 against Azat Hankuliyev and Slava Shainyan.
Moving into singles play, the Boilermakers found themselves trailing 3-1 after losses at No. 3, 6 and 4. With the pressure on, Purdue stepped up.
Julio pulled a point back at No. 2 over Fran Capalbo in straight sets 7-5, 6-3. Bennett tied things up at the top of the order with a three-set decision against Benkaim 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. The whole match came down to No. 5, where Welch needed two tie breaks to win in straight sets against Wally Thayne 7-6(4), 7-6(4).
The Boilermakers will make their home debut at the Schwartz Tennis Center next Saturday (Feb. 1) against DePaul at 10 a.m. and Toledo at 6 p.m.
PURDUE (2-3) 4, UTAH (2-2) 3
SINGLES
1. #45 Athell Bennett (PUR) def. Russell Benkaim (UTAH) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
2. Mateo Julio (PUR) def. Franco Capalbo (UTAH) 7-5, 6-3
3. Mathias Gavelin (UTAH) def. Maksymillian Raupuk (PUR) 6-1, 6-4
4. Slava Shainyan (UTAH) def. Michal Wozniak (PUR) 6-2, 6-3
5. Sebastian Welch (PUR) def. Wally Thayne (UTAH) 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4)
6. Paul McCallie (UTAH) def. Julian Saborio (PUR) 6-4, 3-6, 6-0
DOUBLES
1. Athell Bennett/Maksymilian Raupuk (PUR) def. Randy Cory/Russell Benkaim (UUT) – 6-2
2. Julian Saborio/Michal Wozniak (PUR) vs. Wally Thayne/Franco Capalbo (UUT) – 6-6
3. Sebastian Welch/Mateo Julio (PUR) def. Azat Hankuliyev/Slava Shainyan (UUT) – 7-6 (7-4)
FOLLOW ALONG
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