March 4, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The 33rd-ranked Boilermakers (7-2, 1-0 Big Ten) knocked off their second-consecutive nationally ranked opponent of the weekend Sunday with a 6-1 win at No. 66 Virginia Tech.
Purdue's victory completed a weekend road sweep against both Virginia-based ACC schools and improved its record against ranked opponents to 3-2.
Sophomore Mallory Voelker exchanged wins with 72nd-ranked Inga Beermann through a pair of meetings at No. 1 singles and doubles. Beermann and partner J.J. Larson upset the 28th-ranked combo of Voelker and Brooke Beier, 8-6, but Voelker came back to beat the German native in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Voelker has won three-straight matches at No. 1 singles to improve to 8-4 this spring. Her doubles loss with Beier was their first since Feb. 11, when they lost to William & Mary's nationally ranked No. 1 tandem of Megan Moulton-Levy and Katarina Zoricic, 9-7.
The William & Mary dual also marked the last time Purdue dropped the doubles point. The Boilermakers had been 0-2 when losing the dual's first point, but rallied to win all six singles contests against the Hokies.
Boilermaker head coach Mat Iandolo was a bit concerned after his team lost two of three doubles. His team was 0-8 last season in duals in which they lost the doubles point.
"I was a bit frightened at first when we got off to that slow start, but I was still confident we could win," said Iandolo. "Mal (Voelker) had a great win, beating a nationally ranked kid on her home court. Today we proved we could still win a match without that first point."
Four Boilermakers won their matches in straight sets, starting with junior transfer Cigdem Duru, who finished first with a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles over J.J. Larson.
Duru and Neela Vaez were the only Boilermakers to post wins in singles and doubles. They scored the team's lone doubles victory with a 9-8 decision at No. 2 over Bethan James and Jessica Brouwer.
Vaez was victorious at No. 4 singles with a three-set triumph over Jessica Long, 7-5, 3-6, 1-0. The freshman from Perrysburg, Ohio, is the first Boilermaker to reach 10 wins this spring at 10-2; she is also unbeaten at the No. 4 spot with a 6-0 record.
Beier, Randi Schuler and Anna Dzeva were the remaining straight-set victors. Beier was back at the No. 2 spot and defeated Karina Porushkevich, 6-4, 6-2. Schuler beat Ashley James, 7-6, 7-5 at No. 3., and Dzeva was a winner at No. 6, beating Abbey Walker, 7-5, 6-1.
Next up for Purdue is its spring break trip to Hawaii. While in paradise, the Boilermakers will play both Hawaii (March 12) and North Carolina (March 15).
#33 Purdue University 6, #66 Virginia Tech 1
Singles competition
1. Mallory Voelker (PUR) def. #72 Inga Beermann (VT) 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
2. Brooke Beier (PUR) def. Karina Porushkevich (VT) 6-4, 6-2
3. Randi Schuler (PUR) def. Ashley James (VT) 7-6, 7-5
4. Neela Vaez (PUR) def. Jessica Long (VT) 7-5, 3-6, 1-0
5. Cigdem Duru (PUR) def. J.J. Larson (VT) 6-4, 6-2
6. Anna Dzeva (PUR) def. Abbey Walker (VT) 7-5, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Inga Beermann/J.J. Larson (VT) def. #28 Brooke Beier/Mallory Voelker (PUR) 8-6
2. Cigdem Duru/Neela Vaez (PUR) def. Bethan James/Jessica Brouwer (VT) 9-8
3. Jessica Long/Abbey Walker (VT) def. Anna Dzeva/Randi Schuler (PUR) 8-6
Match Notes
Purdue University 7-2; National ranking #33
Virginia Tech 7-4; National ranking #66
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (5,2,6,3,4,1)