CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Purdue women's tennis team opened its fall campaign against Virginia, a team that finished No. 8 in the final ITA poll last year, in a hidden dual at the Kitty Harrison Invitational at North Carolina.
The Boilermakers walked away with two doubles victories and three singles wins.
Freshmen Ida Clement, Ece Gencer and Kathryn Wilson and UTSA transfer Fatima Gutierrez made their Boilermaker debuts on Friday.
Purdue claimed two of the three matches in the double session. The newcomer duo of Kathryn Wilson and Gutierrez downed Martina Genis Salas and Meggie Navarro at No. 2, 6-4. The elder Wilson teamed up with Clement to outlast Zara Larke and Nicole Kiefer at No. 3, 7-6 (5).
Senior tandem Carmen Gallardo Guevara and Tara Katarina stayed close with No. 3-ranked duo Elaine Chervinsky and Melodie Collard but fell 6-4.
In her first career singles match, Clement defeated No. 91 Melodie Collard in come-from-behind fashion, 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (13), at No. 2. Fatima Gutierrez pulled out a 6-1, 7-5 win over Martina Genis Salas. Ece Gencer needed a super tiebreak to defeat Meggie Navarro 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (5).
Purdue will square off with host North Carolina, which finished No. 7 in the nation last year, at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.
SINGLES
1. No. 74 Elaine Cervinsky (UVA) def. Carmen Gallardo Guevara (PUR) – 6-1, 6-3
2. Ida Clement (PUR) def. No. 91 Melodie Collard (UVA) – 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (13)
3. Fatima Gutierrez (PUR) def. Martina Genis Salas (UVA) – 6-1, 7-5
4. Zara Larke (UVA) def. Kathryn Wilson (PUR) – 6-1, 6-2
5. Blanca Pico Navarro (UVA) def. Juana Larranaga (PUR) – 6-4, 6-3
6. Ece Gencer (PUR) def. Meggie Navarro (UVA) – 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (5)
DOUBLES
1. No. 3 Elaine Chervinsky/Melodie Collard (UVA) def. Carmen Gallardo Guevara/Tara Katarina Milic (PUR) – 6-4
2. Fatima Gutierrez/Kathryn Wilson (PUR) def. Martina Genis Salas/Meggie Navarro (UVA) – 6-4
3. Ashlie Wilson/Ida Clement (PUR) def. Zara Larke/Nicole Kiefer (UVA) – 7-6(5)