Jan. 27, 2001
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue men's tennis team picked up its first win of the season Saturday when it defeated Western Michigan 6-1 at the Lafayette Sports Center. The Boilermakers now stand at 1-0 on the season.
"I was confident with our preparation and attitude headed into the doubles matches today," head coach Tim Madden said. "Our team rallied behind each other for each win and that was great to see. We have grown a lot since last year and are definitely coming out more ready to play."
The Boilermakers captured the doubles point with wins from senior Jason Marshall and Dan Swan at No. 2 and sophomore Scott Mayer and junior Derek Miller at No. 3.
In singles action, Purdue sophomore Andrew Wakefield picked up a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Ryan Maarschalk at the No. 5 spot. At No. 4, Miller defeated Christian Brattstrom 6-4, 6-3. Marshall won at No. 1 with a 7-6, 6-3 win over Steve Pillon.
Sophomores Carl McCafferty and Scott Mayer pushed their respective matches at No. 2 and 3 to three sets. Mayer rebounded from a 6-7 defeat in the first set to Ryan Tomlinson and won with 6-3 and 6-1 scores in the second and third. McCafferty stopped Fernando Garcia 6-3 in the first set. After suffering a 3-6 loss in the second, the Highland, Calif., native embarrassed Garcia with a 6-1 beating.
"After working so hard to win in the first set, I just could not bear to lose," McCafferty said. "In the third set I just really wanted to claim the victory."
Madden took McCafferty's and Mayer's intensity as a sign of growth for the Boilermakers.
"Today we weren't sharp enough to refocus from point to point," Madden said. "Luckily our guys figured out ways to win. That shows me we are ahead of where we were this time last year."
The Boilermakers will travel to Tennessee to face Vanderbilt and Middle Tennessee next weekend.
"The guys have to learn that they can't wait to just react to negative situations," Madden said. "We have to go in and establish a good start to be successful against the next two teams. If we just get complacent, we will be in trouble."