Feb. 25, 2007
MUNCIE, Ind. - Winning wasn't easy for the Boilermakers this weekend, but they still came through with a 4-3 victory over Ball State Sunday afternoon and extended their season-opening win streak to six. Ball State dropped to 3-6.
Purdue's contest with the Cardinals followed a similar pattern to yesterday's dual at Michigan State. The Boilermakers dropped the doubles point, but rallied to win four-of-six singles.
Sophomore Kurt Zaske clinched the dual with a three-set comeback win over Bret Berryman at No. 4 singles, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6. The win improved Zaske's spring record to 5-1; he missed last weekend's tripleheader due to an illness.
"Kurt lost a lot of close matches last year, but he's winning them this season," said head coach Tim Madden. "He knew the pressure was on him today and the crowd was loud, but he got the job done both for himself and the team."
Zaske also won at No. 1 doubles with partner Paul Rose over BSU's Joe Epkey and Jose Perdomo, 8-6. Madden said their win reflected some of the best tennis he's seen from them all season.
In addition to Zaske's win at No. 4, the Boilermakers also claimed victories from Branko Kuzmanovic at No. 2, and Eric Hodgman and Paul Foley at the 3 and 5 spots. Hodgman remains unbeated this spring at 9-0, while Foley won his eighth-straight decision to improve to 8-1.
The Boilermakers remain on the road next weekend playing at Yale and Harvard on March 3 and 4.
Purdue 4, Ball State 3
Doubles Competition
No. 1 Paul Rose/Kurt Zaske def. Joe Epkey/Jose Perdomo, 8-5
No. 2 Aaron Phillips/Jorge Rodriguez def Paul Foley/Branko Kuzmanovic, 8-5
No. 3 Joe Vallee/Jarrod Epkey def. Eric Hodgman/PJ Rose, 8-6
Singles Competition
No. 1 Joe Epkey def. Paul Rose, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-5
No. 2 Branko Kuzmanovic def. Aaron Phillips, 6-7 (8), 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 Eric Hodgman def. Jose Perdomo, 6-2, 7-5
No. 4 Kurt Zaske def. Bret Berryman, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4)
No. 5 Paul Foley def. Jimmy Brannon, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5
No. 6 Joe Vallee def. Scott Warner, 6-0, 7-5