Jan. 30, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue women's tennis freshman Hala Sufi scored an upset, but the 42nd-rankd Boilermakers could not pull out a team victory against No. 23 Tennessee in Knoxville, on Friday. The host Lady Vols beat Purdue 6-1, bringing both teams' records to 2-1.
Sufi, a promising rookie, upset 96th-ranked Ashley Robards 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3 singles for Purdue's lone point of the day. Sufi also won at No. 2 doubles, teaming with junior Shawna Zuccarini for an 8-6 victory over Robards and Sabita Maharaj.
Tennessee won the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. Seniors Gretchen Haynor and Melissa Woods fell 8-0 to Tammy Encina and Melissa Schaub at the top spot, while junior Lara Burgarello and freshman Alyssa Rodriguez dropped an 8-6 decision to Majen Immink and Breanna Kray in the third position.
Encina, ranked 13th, was the first victor in singles, downing Haynor 6-0, 6-4 at No. 1. Also victorious for the Lady Vols were 86th-ranked Maharaj, Blakeley Griffith, Immink and Victoria Jones. Maharaj beat Amy Walgenbach, Griffith beat Rodriguez, Immink beat Zuccarini, and Jones beat Burgarello. Zuccarini retired from her match despite winning the first set 6-3.
Though Purdue did not win the match, head coach Mat Iandolo praised the Boilermakers.
"The score of this match does not reflect how hard we competed against one of the best teams and programs in the country," Iandolo said.
Iandolo was particularly impressed with Sufi.
"Hala played an unbelievable match," Iandolo said. "She went into the match with a lot of confidence and believed she could win."
Purdue returns to action Sunday, when it takes on LSU in Baton Rouge. The match is scheduled to start at noon.
#23 Tennessee 6, #42 Purdue 1Singles1. #13 Tammy Encina (UT) def. Gretchen Haynor (PU) 6-0, 6-42. #86 Sabita Maharaj (UT) def. Amy Walgenbach (PU) 6-0, 4-6, 6-13. Hala Sufi (PU) def. #96 Ashley Robards (UT) 6-3, 6-24. Blakeley Griffith (UT) def. Alyssa Rodriguez (PU) 6-2, 6-35. Majen Immink (UT) def. Shawna Zuccarini (PU) 3-6, 4-1 ret.6. Victoria Jones (UT) def. Lara Burgarello (PU) 6-3, 7-5Doubles1. Encina/Melissa Schaub (UT) def. Haynor/Woods (PU) 8-02. Zuccarini/Sufi (PU) def. Maharaj/Robards (UT) 8-63. Immink/Breanna Kray (UT) def. Burgarello/Rodriguez (PU) 8-6- P -
Purdue: 2-1Tennessee: 2-1