April 9, 2006
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue men's tennis team captured a conference victory Sunday afternoon at the Purdue Varsity Tennis Courts over Michigan State 4-3. The win snaps a losing streak of two matches and gives the Boilermakers (7-11, 2-4 Big Ten) their first victory since a 7-0 defeat over South Florida on March. 26.
Doubles play wasn't quite up to par for the Boilermakers for the second day in a row as they lost the doubles point. The lone win in doubles for Purdue came at the No.2 spot where junior Eric Hodgman and freshman Griffin Nienberg paired up to beat John Allare and Joseph McWilliams of Michigan State 8-4.
In singles, Purdue took four of six matches to claim the victory over the Spartans. Getting singles victories for the Boilermakers included Nienberg, senior Colin Foster, junior Jarred Leibner and freshman Kurt Zaske.
Purdue head coach Tim Madden was happy with the singles play.
"We're still struggling in doubles," Madden said. "Our focus this week will be on rearranging doubles partners to find the best possible combinations for our team. Bottom line though, was our singles play. We came in and got it done in singles and it resulted in a victory. I give credit to all of the singles players today. They played real hard."
Purdue resumes play next weekend as it goes on the road. The Boilermakers will play at Northwestern on April 15 and at Wisconsin on April 16. Both matches are scheduled to begin at noon.
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Purdue 4, Michigan State 3
Singles
1. #117 Nick Rinks (MSU) def. Scott Warner (P) 7-5, 6-3
2. Colin Foster (P) def. Adam Monich (MSU) 6-4, 6-4
3. John Allare (MSU) def. Eric Hodgman (P) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
4. Jarred Leibner (P) def. Michael Flowers (MSU) 6-3, 6-0
5. Kurt Zaske (P) def. Joseph McWilliams (MSU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Griffin Nienberg (P) def. Scott Rasmussen (MSU) 7-6, 1-6, 7-5*
Doubles
1. #46 Rinks/Monich (MSU) def. Foster/Zaske (P) 8-4
2. Hodgman/Nienberg (P) def. Allare/McWilliams (MSU) 8-4
3. Rasmussen/Flowers (MSU) def. Fuenmayor/Warner (P) 8-5
Order of singles finish: 4, 5, 2, 1, 6, 3
Order of doubles finish: 2, 1, 3
* Denotes match-clinching win
Purdue: 7-11
Michigan State: 7-14
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