Feb. 3, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue men's tennis team (2-2) lost a tightly contested 4-3 dual to No. 38 William & Mary Sunday at Harvard University's Murr Center.
Head coach Tim Madden said the match was identical to Saturday's 6-1 loss to the Crimson although the final scores suggested otherwise.
"The best news from today was that we showed confidence at every position at both singles and doubles," Madden said. "I told the team they have no reason to hang their heads. They all fought hard and are still learning.
"Both our opponents (Harvard and William & Mary) are going to be at the NCAA Tournament. We just have to figure out how to get past these high-caliber teams in order to reach our goals. Everyone needs to stay hungry."
Freshman Eric Ramos and sophomore P.J. Rose led Purdue with wins in singles and doubles. As the No. 2 combo, Ramos and Rose scored the Boilermakers' lone doubles win with an 8-6 victory over Richard Wardell and Alexander Zuck.
Rose went on to beat Keziel Juneau at No. 3, 6-4, 6-2, while Ramos won his second match of the weekend at No. 4 over Wardell, 6-3, 6-3.
Madden enjoyed Ramos' performances on the Crimson courts.
"Both times out there, he completely took his opponent out of the match," Madden said. "And these are good college-level players, who have compiled good results. It's tremendous to see a freshman so intelligent in the way he's able to compete."
Griff Nienberg picked up a point at No. 5 singles with a 6-2, 6-4 triumph over Marwan Ramadan.
The Boilermakers return to the Schwartz Tennis Center Friday for a 5 p.m. match with Indiana State. Purdue returns to the road for a Sunday match at Arkansas.
No. 38 William & Mary 4, Purdue 3
Singles
1.) Alex Cojanu (WM) def. Branko Kuzmanovic (PUR) 6-2, 6-4
2.) Dominic Pagon (WM) def. Slavko Bijelica (PUR) 6-4, 7-6
3.) P.J. Rose (PUR) def. Keziel Juneau (WM) 6-4, 6-2
4.) Eric Ramos (PUR) def. Richard Wardell (WM) 6-3, 6-3
5.) Griff Nienberg (PUR) def. Marwan Ramadan (WM) 6-2, 6-4
6.) Sebastien Vidal (WM) def. Paul Foley (PUR) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
1.) Cojanu/Juneau (WM) def. Bijelica/Kuzmanovic (PUR) 8-4
2.) Ramos/Rose (PUR) def. Wardell/Zuck (WM) 8-6
3.) Vidal/Pagon (WM) def. Foley/Funemayor (PUR) 8-6