WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue men's tennis team split a doubleheader Sunday, defeating Drake 4-2 and falling the Cleveland State 4-3. After the splitting the two matches, Purdue is now 10-6 overall on the year.
PURDUE vs. DRAKE
In the morning contest against the Bulldogs (3-14), Purdue used a massive surge in singles action to come from behind.
The Boilermakers had their work cut out for them after dropping the opening doubles point. Athell Bennett and Julian Saborio put Purdue ahead in the opening stages with an electric 6-2 win over Barny Thorold and Oliver Johansson at No. 1. Drake rebounded with matching 7-5 wins at No. 2 and 3 to take an early 1-0 lead.
In singles play, Purdue roared back into the match with three quick wins. Tomasz Dudek cruised to an early victory over David Nyman at No. 5 6-4, 6-1 followed by a dominating 6-3, 6-2 performance from Bennett over Johansson at No. 1.
Michal Wozniak followed suit, as the Polish international coasted by Evan Fragistas at No. 3 6-3, 6-0 to put Purdue within one point of victory.
Despite the Bulldogs trying to make a run, the Boilermakers sealed a victory with a three-set thriller from Sebastian Welch at No. 4 closing out Matija Matic 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Maksymilian Raupuk was also in a grudge match as he pushed Thorold to a third set at No. 2 but eventually had the match go unfinished 5-7, 6-3, 3-2.
PURDUE 4, DRAKE 2
SINGLES
1. Athell Bennett (PUR) def. Oliver Johansson (DU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Maksymilian Raupuk (PUR) vs. Barny Thorold (DU) Unfinished, 5-7, 6-3, 3-2
3. Michal Wozniak (PUR) def. Evan Fragistas (DU) 6-3, 6-0
4. Sebastian Welch (PUR) def. Matija Matic (DU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
5. Tomasz Dudek (PUR) def. David Nyman (DU) 6-4, 6-1
6. Freddie Powell (DU) def. Franz Luna (PUR) 7-6(2), 6-1
DOUBLES
1. Athell Bennett/Julian Saborio (PUR) def. Barny Thorold/Oliver Johansson (DU) 6-2
2. David Nyman/Matilja Matic (DU) def. Mateo Julio/Maksymilian Raupuk (PUR) 7-5
3. Evan Fragistas/Freddie Powell (DU) def. Sebastian Welch/Tomasz Dudek (PUR) 7-5
Singles order: 5, 1, 3, 6
Doubles order: 1, 2, 3
PURDUE vs. CLEVELAND STATE
In their second match of the day and plagued by fatigue, the Boilermakers could not pull off their second come-from-behind victory in the afternoon.
Purdue found themselves in an early 1-0 deficit after dropping the opening doubles point. Cleveland State (5-6) secured the opening salvo behind 6-3 and 6-4 wins at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
The Boilermakers attempted to dig their way out of the early hole. Following a loss at No. 4, Purdue fired back with a strong outing at No. 6 with Santiago Galan closing out Kade Mindry 6-2, 6-3.
Athell Bennett followed suit with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 94 Nico Mostardi at No. 1. It was Bennett's third win over a ranked opponent this spring.
Cleveland State eventually prevailed through the Purdue surge and sealed the match at No. 2 in a 6-3, 7-6(4) tiebreak.
The match concluded when Tomasz Dudek's opponent Raul Teichmann retired with 3-6, 6-3, 3-2 lead at No. 5.
PURDUE (10-6) 3, CLEVELAND STATE (5-6) 4
SINGLES
1. No. 20 Athell Bennett (PUR) def. No. 94 Nico Mostardi (CSU) 6-4, 6-4
2. Matthew Terry (CSU) def. Maksymilian Raupuk (PUR) 6-3, 7-6(4)
3. Luke Phillips (CSU) def. Michal Wozniak (PUR) 6-4, 6-2
4. Clark Bilinovich (CSU) def. Sebastian Welch (PUR) 6-1, 6-4
5. Tomasz Dudek (PUR) def. Raul Teichmann (CSU) 3-6, 6-3, 3-2, ret.
6. Santiago Galan (PUR) def. Kade Mindry (CSU) 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES
1. Nico Mostardi/Luke Phillips (CSU) def. Athell Bennett/Julian Saborio (PUR) 6-3
2. Matthew Terry/Kade Mindry (CSU) def. Mateo Julio/Michal Wozniak (PUR) 6-4
3. Clark Bilinovich/Raul Teichmann (CSU) vs. Tomasz Dudek/Sebastian Welch (PUR) Unfinished, 5-4
Singles order: 4, 6, 1, 3, 2, 5
Doubles order: 1, 2
UP NEXT
Purdue will be back in action March 8 as they travel to Illinois for a Big Ten showdown. The Boilermakers will be back in Schwartz Tennis Center March 14 for a doubleheader against Niagara.
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