April 22, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue has won the doubles point in five of its last duals but, for whatever reason, the Old Gold and Black cannot sustain the momemntum through singles. That was the case again as the Boilermakers dropped a 5-2 home decision to Iowa on Saturday.
The Boilermakers captured the doubles point in come-from-behind fashion. After Jose Fuenmayor and Eric Hodgman lost at No. 2, Paul Foley and Griff Nienberg beat Christian Bierich and Reinoud Haal 8-6, then Branko Kuzmanovic and Paul Rose defeated J.P. Ritchie and Bart van Monsjou 8-5.
Purdue's 1-0 lead did not last for long as the Hawkeyes won the first four singles matches to clinch their first Big Ten win of the season. Nienberg was the Boilermakers' lone singles winner as he beat Patrick Dwyer at No. 6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The Boilermakers came close to winning at No. 1 and No. 3 singles. Bart van Monsjou held off Branko Kuzmanovic at the top spot 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (9-7), while Christian Bierich came back from a set down to defeat Eric Hodgman 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
Unless Purdue can pull off an upset of No. 34 Minnesota Sunday at noon, it is destined for the No. 11 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, which begins Thursday, April 26 at the Schwartz Tennis Center.
Admission is free to the Big Ten Men's Tennis Tournament.
Iowa 5, Purdue 2
Singles competition
1. Bart van Monsjou (IOWA) def. Branko Kuzmanovic (PUR) 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (9-7)
2. J.P. Ritchie (IOWA) def. Paul Rose (PUR) 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Christian Bierich (IOWA) def. Eric Hodgman (PUR) 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
4. Reinoud Haal (IOWA) def. Paul Foley (PUR) 6-3, 6-2
5. Tommy McGeorge (IOWA) def. Scott Warner (PUR) 6-4, 6-0
6. Griffin Nienberg (PUR) def. Patrick Dwyer (IOWA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Branko Kuzmanovic/Paul Rose (PUR) def. J.P. Ritchie/Bart van Monsjou (IOWA) 8-5
2. Walker Grimes/Gregory Holm (IOWA) def. Jose Fuenmayor/Eric Hodgman (PUR) 8-4
3. Paul Foley/Griffin Nienberg (PUR) def. Christian Bierich/Reinoud Haal (IOWA) 8-6
Match Notes
Iowa 9-11, 1-8 Big Ten
Purdue 8-12, 1-8 Big Ten
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,5,2,3,6,1)
T-3:54 A-42