April 22, 2006
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue utilized its home court advantage Saturday to pick up a 4-3 men's tennis win against Iowa at the Varsity Tennis Courts. The Boilermakers, who are now 7-3 at home this season, improved to 8-13 overall and 3-6 in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes slipped to 6-12 and 1-8. Both teams have one match remaining in the regular season.
Purdue head coach Tim Madden said his team's grit showed.
"I thought we fought really hard throughout the lineup," Madden said. "I was really impressed with how some of our guys were able to come back and gut out some wins."
Gut-check time came in singles. After dropping all three doubles matches, Purdue trailed 1-0 heading into individual play. The Boilermakers needed to win four singles contests in order to collect the team victory, and that is just how many they got.
First off the court was freshman Kurt Zaske, who beat Brett Taylor 6-4, 6-4 at No. 5. Next was junior Jarred Leibner, who defeated Chaitu Malempati 6-3, 6-4 at No. 4. Junior Eric Hodgman's 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 win at No. 3 over J.P. Ritchie put the Boilermakers up 3-1.
The Hawkeyes got back on the board with a win at No. 2 singles. But shortly thereafter, junior Matt Zollman delivered the match-clinching victory, a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 decision over Greg Holm at No. 6.
Iowa added a win at No. 1 singles after the team outcome had been decided.
After the slow start in doubles, Madden was concerned.
"I think getting the doubles point would have made things a little easier," Madden said. "But we never gave up. That's something we have to hang our hat on."
Purdue concludes its regular season Sunday, with a home match against No. 37 Minnesota, which lost at No. 5 Illinois on Saturday. The Boilermakers and Golden Gophers will get under way at noon at the Varsity Tennis Courts.
Purdue 4, Iowa 3
Singles
1. Bart van Monsjou (I) def. Colin Foster (P) 7-5, 5-7, 6-4
2. Christian Bierich (I) def. Scott Warner (P) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
3. Eric Hodgman (P) def. J.P. Ritchie (I) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
4. Jarred Leibner (P) def. Chaitu Malempati (I) 6-3, 6-4
5. Kurt Zaske (P) def. Brett Taylor (I) 6-4, 6-4
6. Matt Zollman (P) def. Greg Holm (I) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 *
Doubles
1. Foster/Zaske (P) def. van Monsjou/Ritchie (I) 8-5
2. Taylor/Kyle Markham (I) def. Hodgman/Griffin Nienberg (P) 8-2
3. Bierich/Aaron Schaechterle (I) def. Jose Fuenmayor/Kelubia Mabatah (P) 8-2
Order of singles finish: 5,4,3,2,6,1
Order of doubles finish: 3,2,1
* Denotes match-clinching victory
Purdue: 8-13 (3-6 Big Ten)
Iowa: 6-12 (1-8 Big Ten)
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