Jan. 14, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The 33rd-ranked Kentucky Wildcats were caught off guard by Purdue during the second day of competition at the Boilermaker Invitational on Sunday. The Old Gold and Black won five of eight singles matches plus all three doubles contests.
Assistant coach Cris James credited his team's success to the fast starts it received in both singles and doubles.
"We talked about the importance of getting off to good starts and they acted on it," said James. "I really have no complaints. The team played well through doubles and we overwhelmed four of their singles players. Sometimes those guys can surprise you, but today we took care of business."
Eric Hodgman, Kurt Zaske, Paul Foley and Scott Warner all made quick work of their opponents, winning in straight sets. Hodgman, the last one off the court Satruday, was the first one off today with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Shane Collins. Meanwhile, Zaske, Foley and Warner refused to let any of their opponents earn more than three match points.
A day removed from losing two tiebreak sets, senior Paul Rose won two tiebreaks over Marcus Sundh, 7-6 (6) and 7-6 (0). Rose and partner Zaske also dominated Sundh and Peter Bjork in doubles, 8-1.
The Boilermakers conclude their invitational Monday with a series of matches with Western Michigan, which has been the second best team this weekend next to Purdue. Against New Mexico Sunday, the Broncos swept all three doubles before winning two singles matches and the three exhibitions.
Tomorrow marks the second of three meetings between WMU and Purdue. The two clubs first met during the fall season at Notre Dame, and will see each other again in a dual match later this spring.
James believes there won't be any easy points scored against the Broncos.
"Western Michigan competes hard and their players make smart decisions on the court, they don't take any unecesssary chances," said James. "We're going to have to work really hard in order to win."
Purdue's series with WMU starts at 2 p.m. Kentucky and New Mexico begin the day at 9 a.m. Admission is free.
Boilermaker Invitational Day 2 Results
Singles competition
#73 Max Jones (New Mexico) def. #52 Brady Crosby (Western Michigan) 6-4, 6-4
Johnny Parkes (New Mexico) def. Tim Bradshaw (Western Michigan) 6-4, 7-5
Graeme Kassautzki (New Mexico) def. Alex Birchmeier (Western Michigan) 6-2, 6-3
Miles Bugby (New Mexico) def. Milan Petercak (Western Michigan) 7-6 (5), 6-2
Kevin Hayward (Western Michigan) def. Kamil Pajkowski (New Mexico) 6-2, 6-2 John Pelton (Western Michigan) def. Joe Nicolazzi (New Mexico) 5-7, 7-6 (2), 7-5
Paul Rose (Purdue) def. Marcus Sundh (Kentucky) 7-6 (6), 7-6 (0)
Peter Bjork (Kentucky) def. Branko Kuzmanovic (Purdue) 6-3, 6-4
Eric Hodgman (Purdue) def. Shane Collins (Kentucky) 6-0, 6-2
Kurt Zaske (Purdue) def. Kenny Hodge (Kentucky) 6-3, 6-3
Paul Foley (Purdue) def. Roman Ogarkov (Kentucky) 6-3, 6-3
Scott Warner (Purdue) def. Brian Dredge (Kentucky) 6-3, 6-0
Exhibitions
R.K. Bacalla (Western Michigan) def. Chandler Brass (New Mexico) 3-6, 7-5, 10-8
Brian Norville (Western Michigan) def. Jose Fuenmayor (Purdue) 6-2, 6-3
Alejandro Staub (Western Michigan) def. Griffin Nienberg (Purdue) 6-2, 7-5
Doubles competition
#21 Tim Bradshaw/Brady Crosby (Western Michigan) def. Max Jones/Kamil Pajkowski (New Mexico) 8-6
Alex Birchmeier/Brian Norville (Western Michigan) def. Johnny Parkes/Miles Bugby (New Mexico) 9-8 (3)
Alejandro Staub/John Pelton (Western Michigan) def. Joe Nicolazzi/Graeme Kassautzki (New Mexico) 8-5
Paul Rose/Kurt Zaske (Purdue) def. Marcus Sundh/Peter Bjork (Kentucky) 8-1
Eric Hodgman/Jose Fuenmayor (Purdue) def. Roman Ogarkov/Shane Collins (Kentucky) 8-5
Branko Kuzmanovic/Paul Foley (Purdue) def. Kenny Hodge/Brian Dredge (Kentucky) 8-3