March 1, 2002
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - After the Purdue men's tennis team lost its No. 1 and No. 3 doubles matches against Ball State, the Boilermaker's decided to compete with more intensity in their singles play. Purdue competed well enough to win one through six of its singles matches, clinching the win over the Cardinals 6-1.
Senior Laith Al-Agba and junior Carl McCafferty were the sole Boilermakers to come out with a victory in doubles play. The pair came through with an 8-5 win against the Cardinals' Chris Varga and Brad Rhodes at No. 2. Al-Agba continued his strong play with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Kevin Burnett at No. 4 singles.
Although Ball State competed well enough to get in the tie breakers at No.1 and 2 doubles, coach Tim Madden believes the Boilermakers took the doubles team for granted and could've won the matches by executing more.
"I think we learned from that a little bit, in the short break that we had between the doubles and the singles, the message was compete," Madden says. "Stop thinking, stop wondering and just get out and get into the action and get into the fight."
At No.1 singles, Mayer initiated the team's winning streak by defeating Jason Pressel 6-3, 7-6, Miller defeated Chris Varga 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 at No.2 and junior Andrew Wakefield won at No.3 singles against Andrew Seni 6-4, 6-1.
"In doubles, we let them play, they competed at a higher level," Madden says. "In singles, I think our team decided enough is enough and that's what has been our main issue, getting more intensity in our singles play."
In other singles action, Purdue's Al-Agba defeated Kevin Burnett 6-4, 6-1 at No.4. At No.5, Havens dropped his first set 3-6 before rallying a 6-4, 6-1 win in the second and third set to beat Matt Laramore. Freshman Sounak Chatterjee came through victorious against Brad Rhodes 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 at the No. 6 spot.
Madden also applauded Al-Agba, who is now 2-2 at the No. 4 singles spot this spring.
"The best example was Laith, he is showing the kind of senior leadership that we need if we are going to improve as a team," Madden says. "Laith dictated plays very well in the first set 6-4 and then systematically took his opponent apart."
The Boilermakers will play No. 18 Washington on the Varsity Courts in West Lafayette on March 3 at 11 a.m.
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