Feb. 24, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Purdue's men's tennis team (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) extended its season-opening win streak to five with a 4-3 win at Michigan State (6-6, 0-2 Big Ten) Saturday afternoon.
The Boilermakers haven't started a season 5-0 since 1999, but head coach Tim Madden sounded more relieved than satisfied following the team's second-straight win over MSU.
"There a came a point where the win or loss was secondary," said Madden. "The players have to understand that if they play smarter tennis, it will make life a whole lot easier. They work and play so hard, but there are still a lot of inconsistencies. Hopefully we learned a lesson today."
Madden may have considered the win secondary, but it did enable him to pass former Boilermaker coach Larry LaBree for first in all-time Purdue wins with 151. LaBree coached at Purdue from 1925-1964.
There was some smart tennis being played on the court courtesy of Eric Hodgman and Branko Kuzmanovic Hodgman is a Michigan native, growing up in Kalamazoo.
Kuzmanovic rolled past Alex Forger at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 6-0, while Hodgman rallied to beat Adam Monich, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Hodgman remains unbeaten this spring at 8-0.
"Eric truly earned that win today," said Madden. "Even with the match tied at 4-4 in the third set, he knew he was going to break away and win. What Eric may lack in athleticism, he makes up for it in intelligence. He outsmarted his opponent."
Madden was just as impressed with Kuzmanovic's win.
"Forger has been playing good tennis as of late, and Branko just took him out of the match. Branko is in tune with what's important and understands how to compete; he was on his game today."
Wins by P.J. Rose and Paul Foley at No. 5 and 6 singles helped clinch the dual. Rose beat Jason Norville, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 for his second-straight dual victory since coming off the injured list. Foley extended his win-streak to seven with a 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4 triumph over Scott Rasmussen; four of Foley's last five wins have been in three sets.
Rose and Hodgman earned Purdue's lone doubles win at No. 3. The Boilermaker tandem beat John Allare and Tyler Sauerbrey, 8-5.
The Boilermakers next play Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Ball State. Next weekend they head east to compete against Ivy Leaguers Yale and Harvard on March 3 and 4.