March 30, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue's (8-8, 2-2 Big Ten) four-match losing streak and 13-match road skid came to an end Sunday in Evanston as the Boilermakers toppled Northwestern (7-11, 0-5 Big Ten) at the Combe Tennis Center, 5-2.
Purdue's last road win was a 4-3 triumph at Harvard on March 4, 2007. The Boilermakers lost their last six road games of 2007 and their first seven of 2008, yet remain undefeated at home at 7-0.
"Winning on the road makes us feel like we're supposed to win anywhere," Purdue head coach Tim Madden said. "There's no more excuses now, we have to find a way to get it done."
Purdue opened the match by winning its first doubles point since March 2. The new No. 2 combination of Griff Nienberg and Slavko Bijelica won its second straight match together in as many days, beating Northwestern's Peter Rispoli and Alexander Thams, 8-5, to clinch the all-important first point.
Eric Ramos and Jose Fuenmayor, competing for the first time together, scored the Boilermakers' first win by defeating Andrew McCarthy and David Seyferth at No. 3, 8-3.
McCarthy would later withdraw from his No. 5 singles match with Ramos due to injury, giving Purdue a 2-0 lead in the early goings.
Purdue had been feeling confident in its previous doubles incarnations, but Madden, after consulting with his players, decided to shake them up one last time as they enter their final month of play.
This was the last and best weekend to make these types of drastic changes since Purdue has six games left in the regular season.
"It's interesting because I didn't know what to expect to see except a fresh look for the teams," Madden said. "But I can sense a significant change, there's positive energy and everyone's working well together - and all of that carried into singles.
"Jose and Eric were real good together today. They seem to compliment each other extremely well."
Purdue clinched the dual before Northwestern lit its side of the scoreboard. Bijelica made quick work of Alex Sanborn at No. 2 singles, 6-0, 6-4, and P.J. Rose followed with a 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Thams at No. 3.
Nienberg scored the team's fifth point and improved to 4-1 at No. 4 singles with his three-set 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 victory over Rispoli.
The Boilermakers return home to the Schwartz Tennis Center for the first time in over a month this coming weekend, playing host to Michigan on Saturday, April 5 and Penn State on Sunday.
Purdue's dual with the Wolverines starts at 1 p.m. The Boilermakers go to work vs. Penn State at noon. Admission is free.