April 13, 2003
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue men's tennis team completed a weekend sweep, with a 5-2 victory over Michigan State at the Varsity Tennis Courts on Sunday. The Boilermakers, who defeated Michigan 5-2 on Saturday, now own a 12-6 record (6-2 Big Ten). The Spartans dropped to 12-11 (3-5 Big Ten).
Purdue head coach Tim Madden was more than pleased with the weekend's results.
"This weekend we were more decisive than we have ever been, both in doubles and in singles," Madden said. "Everyone did a great job and took care of business."
Purdue took care of Michigan State with ease. The Boilermakers quickly won the doubles point, with senior Scott Mayer and junior Troy Havens breezing to an 8-0 victory over Eric Simonton and Cameron Marshall at No. 1.
Soon after, senior Andrew Wakefield and freshman Paul Rose walked off the No. 2 court with an 8-3 win over Jimmy McGuire and Adam Hourani.
The Boilermakers did not let up in singles. Havens made quick work of Marshall at No. 3, winning 6-1, 6-2. Haven's singles win was his fifth in a row, a streak the South Bend native attributes to his confident approach.
"I'm going out there with the mentality that I expect to win," Havens said. "Things are coming easier as I continue to outwork my opponents."
Mayer outworked Andrew Formanczyk at No. 1, winning 6-2, 6-4.
Rose delivered the match-clinching victory at No. 4, with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of Goran Topalo. Wakefield provided Purdue's final singles win, with a come-from-behind victory at No. 2. Wakefield lost his first set to Chris Mitchell 6-2, but came back to win 6-4 in the second, and won the matchbreaker 10-7.
Purdue has two matches remaining on its regular-season schedule. The Boilermakers will play at No. 37 Indiana on April 18, then will host No. 1 Illinois on April 20.
Purdue is guaranteed at least a share of fourth place in the final conference standings before the Big Ten Championships begin on April 24. According to Madden, the Boilermakers will face less pressure as the season winds down.
"We have everything to gain and nothing to lose," Madden said. "We're playing with a lot of confidence right now, and I think we're a dangerous team."
#50 Purdue 5, #59 Michigan State 2Doubles1. Mayer/Havens (P) def. Simonton/Marshall (MS) 8-02. Wakefield/Rose (P) def. McGuire/Hourani (MS) 8-33. Formanczyk/Mitchell (MS) def. McKinley/Sounak Chatterjee (P) 8-2Singles1. Scott Mayer (P) def. Andrew Formanczyk (MS) 6-2, 6-42. Andrew Wakefield (P) def. Chris Mitchell (MS) 2-6, 6-4, 10-73. Troy Havens (P) def. Cameron Marshall (MS) 6-1, 6-24. Paul Rose (P) def. Goran Topalo (MS) 6-2, 6-25. Jimmy McGuire (MS) def. Seth McKinley (P) 6-2, 7-66. Eric Simonton (MS) def. David Robinson (P) 6-2, 5-7, 14-12- P -