By Brian Peloza
Staff Writer

This weekend, the Purdue women’s tennis team's match against Minnesota will mark the final home appearance for seniors Jennifer Embry and Shannon Taheny.

The match starts at 11 a.m. on Sunday at the Varsity Tennis Courts. There will be a special recognition of the seniors about 10 minutes before the start of the match.

Embry, coming into her senior year, has recorded 67 singles victories. She was named All-Big Ten her sophomore and junior years. Embry’s 27 singles victories during the 1998-99 season are tied for fourth most in one season in the history of Purdue.

Taheny, like Embry, has been named Academic All-Big Ten the past two years. Taheny had compiled 43 singles wins before her senior year.

The two seniors combine to make up the 19th-ranked doubles team in the nation.

Last weekend, the Minnesota women’s tennis team had its 10-match winning streak snapped by losing consecutive Big Ten matches. Although the team no longer has a winning streak, one individual on the Gophers is still sporting her own.

Minnesota senior and No. 3 singles player Kim Simonsen has won 16 of her last 17 matches, including the last nine in a row.

The Gophers' No. 1 doubles team of Nora Sauska and Sandra Olsen is ranked 33rd in the country.

The match will be vital for the Boilers' chances of getting into the postseason.

"In some ways this is a must-win for the possibility of an NCAA bid," Purdue coach Mat Iandolo said.

To receive an at-large invitation to the NCAA tournament, a team needs to be ranked around 40th or 45th, Iandolo said.

Minnesota (14-5, 5-3 Big Ten) is ranked 36th in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll while Purdue (10-11, 4-5) is ranked 55th.

For the Boilers to make the jump in the rankings, Iandolo said they need to win against another highly ranked opponent. That is what makes the Boilers' match against Minnesota a golden opportunity to improve their rankings.

"When you have a top 40 team at home, you need to take advantage of that," said Iandolo.