Boilers badger teams to secure postseason play

Stephanie Young/Senior Photographer SERVICE: Junior Scott Mayer serves the ball against Minnesota Saturday. The tennis team upset the 20th-ranked Gophers 4-3 and defeated the Wisconsin Badgers 4-3 Sunday.

By Doug Healey
Senior Writer

Before Saturday's match against No. 20 Minnesota, Tim Madden told his team it needed to beat the Golden Gophers and Wisconsin over the weekend to have a chance at postseason play.

And that's exactly what the Boilers (9-8, 4-2 Big Ten) did, as they beat both teams 4-3.

Against Wisconsin Sunday, No. 52 Purdue won the doubles point. Junior Scott Mayer and senior Dan Swan lost 8-6 at No. 1, but Laith Al-Agba and Carl McCafferty won 8-3 at No. 2 and the team of Derek Miller and Andrew Wakefield won 8-6 at No. 3.

"We came out and established and edge after doubles," said Madden, whose team has won five matches by a 4-3 score this season.

McCafferty won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3 singles and was the first player finished with his match. Wakefield followed shortly after with a victory at No. 4, 6-2, 6-2.

With Purdue ahead 3-0 at that point, it needed to win just one of the four matches that were still playing.

But Mayer lost at No. 1, 1-6, 4-6. Then Miller fell at No. 2, 6-4, 0-6, 3-6. Sophomore Troy Havens then lost in straight sets at No. 6, 2-6, 6-7.

With the score tied at 3, the match came down to Al-Agba at No. 5. The senior rallied to win in three sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, securing a 4-3 victory for the Boilers.

"I was really nervous — shaking almost," said Al-Agba, who was cramping against Minnesota Saturday and was questionable for Sunday. "It's never happened to me before … But it's the best feeling in the world. It's a big step for me."

Madden, who graduated from Wisconsin in 1988 and still holds 23 team records, said he was "emotionally drained" after the match.

"It was a physical war out there (Sunday)," he said. "This win is such a lift. We're a more confident team — no question. We're finding ways to get it done."

Against Minnesota Saturday, the Boilers won the doubles point, following victories from Swan and Mayer at No. 1 and Al-Agba and McCafferty at No. 2.

"Our doubles is as good as anybody in the country," said Madden. "It gives us a real sense of confidence."

At No. 2 singles, Miller beat Minnesota's Aleksey Zharinov in straight sets, 7-6, 7-5, avenging a three-set loss to Zharinov from last year.

"I knew I had to pick up my play," said Miller.

At No. 3, McCafferty won 6-2, 6-2. Havens won a three-setter, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4.

"Last year Troy lost those matches," said Madden. "Now he's mixing big serves and keeping points shorter so he dictates the outcome."

Mayer lost in three sets at No. 1. Junior Wakefield lost in straight sets at No. 4. Al-Agba also lost in three sets at No. 5.

Madden said the keys to beating Minnesota were meeting the Gophers' pace, keeping them off balance and playing together as a team.

But in terms of momentum, Madden said the wins were "huge."

"This is the toughest part of the season,"

The Boilers play at Penn State and Ohio State next Saturday and Sunday.

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Boilers badger teams to secure postseason play

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