Tennis team looks to beat
Illinois
 By
Doug Healey
Staff Writer
The Purdue men's tennis team will try to avoid
making its way into the record books against No. 22 Illinois on Sunday
at the Varsity Tennis Courts.
Illinois (10-5, 3-0 Big Ten), the defending Big
Ten champion, has won 48 consecutive conference matches. If the favored
Illinois team wins at Indiana on Saturday, it will tie the record of
49 wins in a row and look to break it against Purdue (10-4, 2-1 Big
Ten) on Sunday at 1 p.m.
"(The Illini) seem to find a reason to make each
opponent a big match," said Purdue coach Tim Madden.
Senior Jason Marshall, the two-time Big Ten singles
champion, said he does not worry about Illinois' streak.
"It's in the back of my mind, but I don't like
to think about it," said Marshall. "I can only control what I do."
Illinois beat Michigan and Michigan State 7-0 last
weekend. In 12 singles matches, the Illini lost only one set.
Marshall, who has never won a match against Illinois,
said it's one of the team's goals to beat Illinois, but they will have
to pick up their level of play in order to win.
"They're good like they always are, and they are
playing with a lot of confidence," said Marshall. "If we play any like
we have been, we won't beat them."
Doubles will once again be a key factor for the
No. 52 Boilers, who have won 13 consecutive doubles points. Madden said
that even though the Boilers have a streak of their own in doubles,
they can't get complacent.
At No. 1 doubles, the team of Jason Marshall and
Dan Swan, ranked 18th in the country, will play the 7th-ranked Illinois
doubles team of Grayden Oliver and Amer Delic.
Marshall said doubles play will dictate the rest
of the match.
"Illinois is bigger than any doubles point the
whole year," said Marshall. "Doubles is our strong point. If we can't
win at our strong point there's no way we can win at our weak points."
It's also the first match the Boilers will play
outdoors at home this spring. Marshall said it's much different than
playing indoors.
"Playing outside is a really big change," he said.
"Things are so much slower. You have to generate your own pace and you
have to win with power. It's tough to put away the balls."
However, it can be used to the Boilers' advantage.
"All of the Illinois players have big games —
a lot of serve and volley," said Marshall. "They win off of a lot of
power in their game, but it takes a lot out of you to keep that up because
you have to generate your own power. It's a big advantage to play them
outside."
Madden said his message to the team is simple.
"I have one question for the team," said Madden.
"Is it in you? If they can answer that, I think we are capable of great
things."
At 1 p.m. on Saturday, the Boilers play Northwestern
at the Varsity Tennis Courts.
Madden said it's important the team gets off to
a good start on the weekend against No. 44 Northwestern.
"We need to make sure we take care of business
on Saturday," said Madden. "Northwestern's a hungry team."
Marshall is confident about Saturday's match.
"Northwestern is very beatable," said Marshall.
"We could win 7-0 if we all show up."
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