April 13, 2002
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue men's tennis team fell 4-3 at Penn State on Saturday, April 13. The loss evens the Boilermakers' overall record to 9-9 and gives them a 4-3 Big Ten mark.
Although the Boilermakers took the doubles point to start the match, the Nittany Lions won four of six matches in the No. 1, 2, 3 and 5 singles spots to take the victory over the 40th-ranked Boilermakers.
Coach Tim Madden was disappointed that the Boilermakers couldn't carry their doubles success into singles.
"In doubles somehow we got through it," Madden said. "We never looked like we were dictating in singles."
At No. 2 doubles, senior Laith Al-Agba and junior Carl McCafferty defeated Brad Nudell and Matt Frakes 8-6, while the Boilermaker duo of senior Derek Miller and sophomore Seth McKinley defeated Roddy Cantey and Josh Rubens 8-4 at No. 3.
With the score 1-0, Purdue watched its lead slip away with losses at the No. 1, 2, 3 and 5 positions. Purdue junior Andrew Wakefield came through to give the Boilermakers one more point, defeating Matt Frakes 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4. Sophomore Troy Havens beat Clint Keithley 6-4, 6-2 at No.6.
Madden believes that the Nittany Lions were more competitive in the singles lineup.
"It was very sluggish tennis," Madden said." We were out-competed by a team that just stayed in the fight longer."
Purdue will continue its intense road schedule at No. 19 Ohio State on April 14. The match is slated to begin at noon.
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Singles
1. Jamie Gresh (PSU) def. Scott Mayer (P) 6-3, 6-22. Todd Stecko (PSU) def. Derek Miller (P) 6-1, 4-6, 7-63. Brad Nudell (PSU) def. Carl McCafferty (P) 6-0, 7-64. Andrew Wakefield (P) def. Matt Frakes (PSU) 6-3, 6-25. Roddy Cantey (PSU) def. Laith Al-Agba (P) 6-4, 7-66. Troy Havens (P) def. Clint Keithley (PSU) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
1. Gresh/Keithley (PSU) def. Mayer/Swan (P) 8-42. Al-Agba/McCaffery (P) def. Nudell/Frakes (PSU) 8-63. Miller/McKinley (P) def. Cantey/Rubens (PSU) 8-4