Illinois sets record for Big Ten wins

By Doug Healey
Staff Writer

The Purdue men's tennis team kept one streak alive on Sunday against No. 22 Illinois, but it wasn't the one they were hoping to extend.

The Fighting Illini (13-5, 5-0 Big Ten) beat the No. 52 Boilers 6-1 on Sunday at the Lafayette Sports Center, winning its NCAA-record 50th consecutive Big Ten match.

Illinois coach Craig Tiley said he is proud of his team's accomplishment.

"I never thought when I got into coaching seven years ago that I'd have a team that would be in the position in the Big Ten Conference to win 50 straight dual matches," said Tiley.

As Illinois' match streak continued, Purdue's streak of consecutive doubles points came to an abrupt halt at 14, as the Illini won two of three doubles matches to take the point.

At No. 1 doubles, Illinois' seventh-ranked team of Graydon Oliver and Amer Delic defeated 18th-ranked Jason Marshall and Dan Swan 8-2. However, the Boilers battled back after Laith Al-Agba and Carl McCafferty won 8-6 at No. 2.

The deciding doubles match at No. 3 came down to a tiebreaker, as Purdue's Derek Miller and Scott Mayer lost 9-8.

"I think we pressed a little bit, instead of just playing hard nosed, fundamental doubles," said Madden. "But we didn't dwell on losing the doubles point. We believed we could still win the match."

The Boilers were overmatched in singles.

At No. 1, Marshall won the only singles match for the Boilers, defeating Oliver 6-4, 7-5. McCafferty lost 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2 singles.

Scott Mayer lost 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3 to Delic, and Miller lost a tough three-set match at No. 4 to Mike Kosta, falling 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Andrew Wakefield lost 6-1, 6-2 at No. 5 singles to Michael Calkins, and Al-Agba lost a three-set match to Nathan Zeder at No. 6 singles, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

"The score was misleading," said Tiley. "This is the best team we have played in the Big Ten so far. The last two matches were in the third set and we could have lost the doubles point just as easily."

Madden agreed the score was not indicative of the competition.

"It's the first time we've had to face being down, and I give my guys a lot of credit. We fought hard, and what could have been a 4-3 match turned out 6-1. Give them credit — they're better."

On Saturday, The Boilers defeated No. 31 Northwestern 4-3 at the Varsity Tennis Courts.

The Boilermakers started strongly once again, winning the doubles point. Marshall and Swan won 8-4 at No. 1 doubles, McCafferty and Al-Agba won 8-6 at No. 2 and Miller and Mayer won 8-0 at No. 3.

Madden was impressed with the way his team started in doubles play.

"We came out and could not have played better tennis in our doubles," said Madden. "This has been the most confident doubles we have played consistently since I've been here."

At No. 1 singles, Marshall won easily over Northwestern's Jackie Jenkins, 6-4, 6-0.

At No. 2 singles, Mayer lost to Brad Erickson 6-4, 3-6, 6-0.

Swan, replacing a sick Troy Havens, lost to Northwestern's Josh Axler 7-5, 6-2 at No. 6.

McCafferty won a three-set match against Joost Hol, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, at No. 3 singles.

With the Boilers ahead 3-2 and the outcome still in doubt, Wakefield battled back and won the second set in a tiebreaker to close out the match against Northwestern's Jamie Sahara.

Wakefield said he lost his focus in the second set.

"I lost my concentration a little bit," said Wakefield. "I could feel it slipping away in the second set even though I was up a break."

Madden said it was important that Wakefield stepped up because Miller eventually lost at No. 5 singles.

"The match was on the line with (Wakefield) on a tiebreaker," said Madden. "I give him a lot of credit for staying focused and inspired."

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