Feb. 20, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue men's tennis team won its first conference victory Sunday at the Lafayette Sports Center over the Northwestern Wildcats. Purdue head coach Tim Madden contributes the 5-2 win to various factors, mainly the attitude of his players.
"We have been doing a lot of different things in terms of preparation for our matches," Madden said. "Big Ten Conference tennis is certainly where it's at, and today we definitely rose to the occasion. We had a fight mentality from the start to finish in singles and in doubles. Our preparation has paid off because this is the best we've looked all year."
The Boilermakers, now 3-3 for the spring, picked up its first point by winning doubles in the No. 2 and 3 positions. Laith Al-Agba and Scott Mayer handed Jamie Sahara and Josh Axler an 8-5 loss, while Carl McCafferty and Derek Miller defeated Jackie Jenkins and Russell Bennett 8-6.
Jason Marshall was victorious at the No. 1 singles spot. He defeated Brad Erickson 6-4, 6-4 and once again won Madden's approval.
"This team gets so much confidence from a guy like Jason Marshall," Madden said. "He constantly displays the fighting mentality I am looking for, and seems to come out and control his matches every week. Jason is on the path to being one of the best college players around."
At the No. 2 singles position, Derek Miller pulled off a 7-6, 6-3 defeat of Joost Hol.
"Derek has always been a fighter for us," Madden said. "He is not only willing to put it on the line physically, he's also ready to fight mentally. For the first time this semester he's putting those things together. You have to be able to play smart, not just physically on the court."
The Boilers will face Indiana on Feb. 24 at the Lafayette Sports Center.
"Indiana is one of those teams where there is a school rivalry, as well as a high level of tennis," Madden said. "They play with so much energy, and we are going to have to probably bump it up a bit in our next match."
Purdue 5, Northwestern 2
Singles
1. Jason Marshall (PU) def. Brad Erickson (NU) 6-4, 6-4
2. Derek Miller (PU) def. Joost Hol (NU) 7-6, 6-3
3. Jackie Jenkins (NU) def. Laith Al-Agba (PU) 6-3, 7-6
4. Josh Axler (NU) def. Carl McCafferty (PU) 7-6, 3-6, 6-3
5. Andrew Wakefield (PU) def. Jamie Sahara (NU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
6. Scott Mayer (PU) def. Russell Bennett (NU) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles
1. Erickson/Hol (NU) def. Marshall/Wakefield (PU) 8-6
2. Al-Agba/Mayer (PU) def. Sahara/Axler (NU) 8-5
3. McCafferty/Miller (PU) def. Jenkins/Bennett (NU) 8-6