Feb. 16, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue's 43rd-ranked women's tennis team (2-3) fell 5-2 to the surging Washington Huskies, who improved to 7-1 with its victory Saturday afternoon at the Mercer Island Country Club.
Washington, which lost to Purdue in West Lafayette last season 7-0, have not lost since its opening-match this spring to Sacramento State.
The Huskies are currently ranked 48th by the ITA.
Purdue was forced to switch around its lineup as redshirt junior Stephanie Wooten stayed back to battle the flu. Her absence resulted in Cigdem Duru and Joanna Craven taking over at No. 1 doubles, while current partner Brooke Beier teamed with Alejandra Boeker at No. 2.
Both teams were victorious as the Boilermakers' claimed the doubles point for just the second time this season.
Duru and Craven rolled past Joyce Ardies and Tara Simpson 8-3. Beier and Boeker fought off Venise Chan and Kelsey Anonsen 8-6.
Singles was a different story as Purdue could only muster one win at six positions. Duru was the Boilermakers' lone victor at No. 2, beating Aleksandra Malovic 6-4, 6-0.
Beier, at No. 1 singles, came close to snapping Venise Chan's 10-game winning streak. The Purdue senior won the first set 6-2, but Chan responded with a 6-0 second set and held on 7-5 in the third.
"I thought everyone played real well and the energy level was great, but we just got outplayed a bit," Purdue head coach Laura Glitz said. "It was tough playing without Steph in our lineup."
Purdue continues its roadtrip Sunday with a visit to Oregon. The match is slated to start at 3 p.m. ET/Noon PT.