The Purdue Exponent


Monday, 4/23/2001	5 day quick link 4/20 \| 4/19 \| 4/18 \| 4/17 \| 4/16

Team finishes season with two home wins

Tennis team to play in Big Ten tournament

Lisa Trubiana/Senior Photographer

BACK FOR ONE MORE: Senior Lisa Walgenbach, playing in her final match at home, hits a backhand against Michigan Sunday at the Purdue Varsity Tennis Courts.

The Purdue women's tennis team finished its regular season with a pair of wins this weekend at home.

The Boilers, who begin play at the Big Ten Championships Thursday in Columbus, Ohio, beat Michigan and Michigan State this weekend.

Sunday's win over Michigan was dramatic.

With the doubles point and two singles victories in hand, Purdue needed just one more singles victory to defeat Michigan. The Boilermakers chances looked dim as Melissa Woods was down 4-0 at the No. 2 position, the last match of the day. But the sophomore fought back to beat Jen Vaughn 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 and secure a 4-3 Purdue victory.

"This was a really good win for myself and my team," Woods said. "I knew that it would come down to me and I had to get the win for the team. It was really exciting to pull off the victory."

Coach Mat Iandolo shared Woods’ excitement.

"I guess the adrenaline must have started pumping in Melissa," Iandolo said. "She had a great 'never say die' attitude and that is what helped us win the match."

The season’s best doubles play also helped Purdue (6-16, 3-7 Big Ten) achieve its third conference win of the year. Woods and Missy Wright paired to defeat Kim Plaushines and Vaughn at the No. 1 position. At No. 2, Lynsey Fick and Melissa Iqbal defeated Chrissie Nolan and Kavitha Tipirneni 8-5. Gretchen Haynor and Erika Quebe knocked off Jen Duprez and Szandra Fuzesi 8-3 to give Purdue the sweep of doubles.

In singles action, Haynor defeated Fuzesi 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3. Fick pulled off a 6-7, 6-3, 6-0 win over Duprez at No. 6. Quebe pushed her matches with Tiprineni to a third set but could not stop the 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 loss.

"Although we don’t have a lot of wins on the season, we have continually improved as a team," Woods said. "I believe the win today will give us the confidence to go into the tournament and play well."

The team's confidence level started to improve Saturday in a 6-1 win over Michigan State.

The Boilermakers won the doubles point by taking victories at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. Woods and Wright defeated Caroline Lay and Trine Lise Juliussen 8-5 at the top of the line up. Quebe and Haynor wrapped things up at the bottom with an 8-2 win over Christee Chargot and Heidi Leffler.

In singles action, Purdue poured on an onslaught of wins. Quebe knocked off Lay 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1. Iqbal followed with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 2. Haynor won over Juliussen 6-2, 6-4 at No. 3.

Fick defeated Chargot 6-3, 6-0 at No. 5. To complete the day, Wright defeated Josie Schmude 6-3, 6-4 at No. 6.

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