Feb. 23, 2007
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Purdue survived its first conference test of the season Friday night, winning at Illinois 6-1. Its prize? A home match against Washington a little over 12 hours from now.
The Boilermaker and Illini battle began at 7 p.m. EST and lasted approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes. Nearly two hours of that time was spent settling the doubles point.
The team of Cigdem Duru and Neela Vaez improved to 3-1 after they overwhelmed Emily Wang and Shivani Davé 8-1 at No. 2 doubles. This Boilermaker combo has been close to automatic since their formation on Feb. 4 vs. DePaul; their lone loss was to 25th-ranked William & Mary's Magdalena Bresson and Ragini Acharya on Feb. 11.
The remaining doubles matches at the 1 and 3 positions were all-out battles taken to a tiebreak. The nation's No. 28 tandem of Mallory Voelker and Brooke Beier fought back from a 7-5 deficit to beat Megan Fudge and Bryce Marable, 9-8 (2); however Randi Schuler and Anna Dzeva fell 9-8 (7) to Momei Qu and Kristina Minor.
Purdue has won the doubles point in four of six duals this season, which includes a 5-1 mark from Beier and Voelker at No. 1.
Following doubles, Purdue received three-consecutive straight-set wins from Schuler, Dzeva and Beier, who clinched the dual with her 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Shivani Davé at No. 2 singles. Beier has been a rock for Purdue this spring in the top half of the lineup, compiling a 6-1 record.
Schuler extracted a measure of revenge on Qu at No. 3 singles, blanking the Illinois junior 6-0, 6-0. Schuler's shutout was her first of the spring season and the team's third as she bettered her dual record to 3-1.
Duru and Vaez each collected a singles victory to go along with their doubles triumph. Junior Duru took out Marable in three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, while freshman Vaez held off Kristina Minor, 6-2, 7-6.
Dzeva was the second Boilermaker finished after rolling over Alejandra Meza Cuadra, 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 6 singles position. The sophomore from Pskov, Russia, is an impressive 6-1 this spring, mostly competing at the back half of the lineup.
The Boilermakers wrap up their weekend series tomorrow at noon, playing host to the University of Washington for the first time in program history.
The original plan was for Purdue to play Washington in Champaign Saturday, but head coach Mat Iandolo and the Husky coaching staff agreed to a home-and-home series that will be completed next spring. After playing Purdue, UW will head to the University of Illinois for a Sunday dual.
#36 Purdue 6, Illinois 1
Singles competition
1. Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Mallory Voelker (PUR) 6-3, 7-5
2. Brooke Beier (PUR) def. Shivani Davé (ILL) 6-2, 6-4
3. Randi Schuler (PUR) def. Momei Qu (ILL) 6-0, 6-0
4. Neela Vaez (PUR) def. Kristina Minor (ILL) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Cigdem Duru (PUR) def. Bryce Marable (ILL) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
6. Anna Dzeva (PUR) def. Alejandra MezaCuadra (ILL) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #28 Mallory Voelker/Brooke Beier (PUR) def. Megan Fudge/Bryce Marable (ILL) 9-8 (7-2)
2. Cigdem Duru/Neela Vaez (PUR) def. Emily Wang/Shivani Davé (ILL) 8-1
3. Momei Qu/Kristina Minor (ILL) def. Randi Schuler/Anna Dzeva (PUR) 9-8 (9-7)
Match Notes:
Purdue 4-2, 1-0 Big Ten; National ranking #36
Illinois 2-5, 0-1 Big Ten
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,6,2,4,1,5)