April 14, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - No. 45 Purdue (11-6, 4-3 Big Ten) lost a hard-fought match to No. 50 Ohio State (16-7, 4-2 Big Ten) 5-2 Saturday afternoon at the Schwartz Tennis Center.
The Boilermakers controlled doubles with a sweep of all three spots, but received only one singles win as Mallory Voelker defeated Julie Blackmore in three sets 6-1, 6-7 (6), 6-2 at the No. 1 position. Voelker's win improved her No. 1 singles record this spring to 11-6 - she has won three of her last four matches since dropping consecutive decisions on March 31 and April 1.
Purdue earned its first doubles sweep since March 12 at Hawaii. The No. 2 combo of Neela Vaez and Cigdem Duru finished first with an 8-4 win over Sonia Ruzimovsky and Caitlin O'Keefe; it was Purdue's first victory at No. 2 since March 24 vs. Michigan State. Vaez and Duru won the set's last four points after it was knotted at 4-4.
The No. 3 team of Anna Dzeva and Alejandra Boeker clinched the point in strong fashion by winning the final three points of their set over Ally Mueller and Christine Keesey 8-5.
By contrast, the No. 1 Purdue duo of Voelker and Brooke Beier got off to a hot start but had to hold onto their lead against Blackmore and Angela DiPastina. The Boilermakers' 45th nationally ranked duo jumped out to a 7-3 lead, but the Buckeyes quickly made a game of it by claiming the next three points and cutting Purdue's lead to one.
Voelker and Beier regrouped in time and pulled through to win the set 8-6.
Purdue has won the doubles point in its last two duals after dropping four straight against nationally ranked teams from Wisconsin, Northwestern, Notre Dame and Michigan.
Purdue concludes its home schedule Sunday with an 11 a.m. dual vs. archrival No. 33 Indiana (15-5, 5-1 Big Ten).
#50 Ohio State 5, #45 Purdue University 2
Singles competition
1. Mallory Voelker (PUR) def. Julie Blackmore (OSU) 6-1, 6-7 (6-8), 6-2
2. Ally Mueller (OSU) def. Brooke Beier (PUR) 6-0, 6-4
3. Christina Keesey (OSU) def. Neela Vaez (PUR) 6-4, 1-6, 6-0
4. Sonia Ruzimovsky (OSU) def. Cigdem Duru (PUR) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
5. Caitlin O'Keefe (OSU) def. Anna Dzeva (PUR) 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
6. Julie Voss (OSU) def. Lauren Shumate (PUR) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #45 Brooke Beier/Mallory Voelker (PUR) def. Julie Blackmore/Angela DiPastina (OSU) 8-6
2. Neela Vaez/Cigdem Duru (PUR) def. Caitlin O'Keefe/Sonia Ruzimovsky (OSU) 8-4
3. Anna Dzeva/Alejandra Boeker (PUR) def. Ally Mueller/Christina Keesey (OSU) 8-5
Match Notes:
Ohio State 16-7, 4-2 Big Ten; National ranking #50
Purdue University 11-6, 4-3 Big Ten; National ranking #45
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,3,6,4,5,1)
T-4:11 A-47