WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue put on a clinic Sunday as it swept Ball State 7-0 in the 2024 season opener.
The day began with a quick victory in doubles play. Tara Katarina Milic/Carmen Gallardo Guevara and Ashlie Wilson/Juana Larranaga took 6-2 victories over their opponents. With an early lead secured, Kennedy Gibbs/Csilla Fodor were robbed of a chance at their first doubles win as the pair slowly climbed back from a deficit before halting on the brink of a 4-4 tie.
The Boilers appeared to be in midseason form with all singles positions winning in straight sets. Purdue's only ranked singles player, No. 113 Gallardo Guevara, notched the first solo win of the season with a 6-4, 6-1 decision over Elena Malykh.
Three experienced players followed suit with Larranaga, Gibbs, and Fodor controlling their matches. Larranaga and Fodor cruised to wins as neither player surrendered more than three games, while Gibbs stayed poised to earn a 6-3, 6-4 win over Sarah Shahbaz.
With the victory in hand, Wilson and Milic showed that the win is still within reach when the going gets tough. Wilson went game-for-game en route to a 7-5 win in the first set. With her lead secured, she put her foot to the gas and never looked back.
Milic, the last woman standing, took the first set convincingly but found herself in a 4-1 hole to start the second. With the cheers of her teammates behind her, she rallied back to win 6-4, 6-4 and secured the sweep for Purdue.
Up Next
Purdue continues its three-match homestand against Miami (Ohio) this Saturday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m.
Purdue (1-0)- 7, Ball State (0-1)- 0
SINGLES
1. Csilla Fodor (PUR) def. Annika Planinsek (BSU)- 6-0, 6-3
2. No. 113 Carmen Gallardo Guevara (PUR) def. Elena Malykh (BSU)- 6-4, 6-1
3. Kennedy Gibbs (PUR) def. Sarah Shahbaz (BSU)- 6-3, 6-4
4. Juana Larranaga (PUR) def. Sydney Hrehor (BSU)- 6-1, 6-2
5. Tara Katarina Milic (PUR) def. Isabel Tanjuatco (BSU)- 6-4, 6-4
6. Ashlie Wilson (PUR) def. Ella Hazelbaker (BSU)- 7-5, 6-2
DOUBLES
1. Sydney Hrehor/Annika Planinsek (BSU) vs. Csilla Fodor/Kennedy Gibbs (PUR)- 4-3 (Unfinished)
2. Tara Katarina Milic/Carmen Gallardo Guevara (PUR) def. Elena Malykh/Ella Hazelbaker (BSU)- 6-2
3. Ashlie Wilson/Juana Larranaga (PUR) def. Isabel Tanjuatco/Sarah Shahbaz (BSU)- 6-2
ORDER OF FINISH
Singles- 2, 4, 3, 1, 6, 5
Doubles- 2, 3, 1 (Unfinished)