Jan. 13, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Senior Eric Hodgman's three-set come-from-behind victory over New Mexico's Kamil Pajkowski provided the perfect ending to Purdue's first day of competition in their new home, the Schwartz Tennis Center.
If Saturday's action at the Boilermaker Invitational was scored as a dual, Hodgman's victory would have given the Boilermakers a 4-3 win over the Lobos. Overall, Purdue claimed five of eight singles matches, including an three-set exhibition win by senior Scott Warner over Western Michigan's R.K. Bacalla, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.
"The fight, effort and intensity we saw today made a tremendous difference," said assistant coach Cris James. "I don't think we had one day like this during the fall season, so I'm hoping our ethusiasm will continue to build day to day."
Hodgman was buried in the first set 6-1, but rallied to win the second set 7-6 (4) before putting Pajkowski away for good in the final frame 6-4. Pajkowski entered this weekend ranked 18th in the ITA Mountain Region.
Hodgman's performance was similar to what was going on courts four and six. Next to Hodgman, sophomore Kurt Zaske held off Miles Bugby with two tiebreaker wins, 7-6 (3) and 7-6 (4). On court six, sophomore Griff Nienberg came from two points down to beat Chandler Brass in the first set, 7-6 (6), then carried over that momentum with a 6-0 second set thumping.
Not all the Boilermakers were able to leave with a win, but they didn't go without a fight. Senior Paul Rose lost two tiebreakers to No. 73 Max Jones, 7-6 (1) and 7-6 (4), and freshman Branko Kuzmanovic lost in three sets to Johnny Parkes, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
Purdue began the afternoon session losing two of three doubles matches. Rose and Zaske lost at No. 1 to Jones and Pajkowsli, the top-ranked doubles team in Mountain region, 8-5. Hodgman and Jose Fuenmayor also lost 8-5 to the tandem of Chris Parkes and Bugby. The rookie pair of Paul Foley Kuzmanovic defeated Joe Nicolazzi and Graeme Kassautzki, 8-2.
"New Mexico is a very good doubles team," said James. "We we're playing a ranked team at No. 1, had one bad service game at No. 2, but we looked really good with Branko and Paul at No. 3."
Purdue continues its run at the three-day Boilermaker Invite Sunday at 2 p.m. against Kentucky, which shockingly lost all eight of its singles matches and two of three doubles matches to Western Michigan. The Broncos and Lobos kick off day two of the invite tomorrow at 9 a.m. Admission is free.
Singles competition
#52 Brady Crosby (Western Michigan) def. Peter Bjork (Kentucky) 6-4, 6-3
Tim Bradshaw (Western Michigan) def. Marcus Sundh (Kentucky) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
Milan Petercak (Western Michigan) def. Shane Collins (Kentucky) 4-6, 6-0, 7-5
Alex Birchmeier (Western Michigan) def. Kenny Hodge (Kentucky) 6-2, 6-2
John Pelton (Western Michigan) def. Roman Ogarkov (Kentucky) 6-3, 6-3
Kevin Hayward (Western Michigan) def. Kyle Virgin (Kentucky) 6-2, 6-0
Bryan Norville (Western Michigan) def. P.J. Rose (Purdue) 6-1, 6-2
Alejandro Staub (Western Michigan) def. Brian Dredge (Kentucky) 6-3, 6-2
Scott Warner (Purdue) def. R.K. Bacalla (Western Michigan) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
#73 Max Jones (New Mexico) def. Paul Rose (Purdue) 7-6 (1), 7-6 (4)
Johnny Parkes (New Mexico) def. Branko Kuzmanovic (Purdue) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Eric Hodgman (Purdue) def. Kamil Pajkowski (New Mexico) 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4
Kurt Zaske (Purdue) def. Miles Bugby (New Mexico) 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5)
Paul Foley (Purdue) def. Joe Nicolazzi (New Mexico) 6-4, 6-2
Griffin Nienberg (Purdue) def. Chandler Brass (New Mexico) 7-6 (6), 6-0
Doubles competition
Alex Birchmeier/Bryan Norville (Western Michigan) def. Peter Bjork/Marcus Sundh (Kentucky) 8-6
Alejandro Staub/John Pelton (Western Michigan) def. Roman Ogarkov/Kenny Hodge (Kentucky) 8-3
Shane Collins/Brian Dredge (Kentucky) def. Milan Petercak/Kevin Hayward (Western Michigan) 8-4
Max Jones/Kamil Pajkowski (New Mexico) def. Paul Rose/Kurt Zaske (Purdue) 8-5
Chris Parkes/Miles Bugby (New Mexico) def. Eric Hodgman/Jose Fuenmayor (Purdue) 8-5
Paul Foley/Branko Kuzmanovic (Purdue) def. Joe Nicolazzi/Graeme Kassautzki (New Mexico) 8-2