Team loses tiebreakers, match to Minnesota

By Brian Peloza
Staff Writer

With two losses in third-set tiebreakers, the Purdue women's tennis team lost a 5-2 match to Minnesota Sunday at the Varsity Tennis Courts.

"I feel like we put ourselves in position to win and we just didn't do it," said Purdue coach Mat Iandolo. "I just can't say enough on how hard we competed today."

Purdue is 10-12 overall and 4-6 in Big Ten play. Minnesota is 16-5, 7-3.

Playing at the No. 3 singles position, Boiler Erika Quebe lost in a third-set tiebreaker. Quebe lost to Kim Simonsen 2-6, 6-0, 6-7. The win by Simonsen protects her unbeaten record in Big Ten play.

"I felt like (Quebe) played the best match she has played in about a month and a half," said Iandolo.

A back injury has been hampering the play of Quebe as of late. Although, Iandolo thinks that the healthier Quebe gets, the more her play will improve.

"As she gets through this back injury, I think good things are going to happen in her senior year," said Iandolo.

Also losing in a third-set tiebreaker was senior Shannon Taheny. Minnesota's Sandra Olsen handed Taheny a 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 loss at the No. 2 position.

Winning at the No. 1 position was Jennifer Embry. The senior easily defeated Nora Sauska 6-2, 6-1 in her last home match. The win by Embry moves her record to 23-13 on the season.

Earning the second point for the Boilers was freshman Melissa Iqbal.

Playing at the No. 4 position, Iqbal came back to defeat Michaela Havelkova 4-6, 6-0, 6-4. The win improves the record of Iqbal to 10-7 in singles play.

Minnesota used wins at the No. 2 and 3 doubles positions to earn the doubles point. Winning for the Boilers were Embry and Taheny. The Purdue seniors defeated the 21st-ranked team of Olsen and Havelkova. The win improves the doubles record of Embry and Taheny to 23-10.

Despite the close loss to Minnesota, Iandolo feels confident going into the Big Ten Tournament this weekend. Purdue will begin play in the tournament on Thursday in Ann Arbor, Mich.

"I think we can beat just about anybody in the league if we can turn around some of these close matches," Iandolo said.

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Team loses tiebreakers, match to Minnesota [wten]

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