March 30, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue's (3-10, 1-3 Big Ten ) eight-match losing streak is history following a 4-3 victory over Wisconsin (7-10, 0-5 Big Ten) Sunday afternoon at the Schwartz Tennis Center.
The Boilermakers were assisted by a group of Stephanie Wooten's friends, who spurred her to wins at No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles.
Known unofficially as the Woo-Ten Clan, this rowdy bunch provided much needed comic relief as Wooten and partner Brooke Beier fought through several tense moments against the Badgers' Elizabeth Carpenter and Jessica Seyferth.
"They definitely helped a lot," Wooten said. "Now we need them to cheer more for everyone on the team and I'll help them learn names. They were really helpful and loud."
Wooten and Beier led 7-4 with match point on the line, but the Badgers won three consecutive points to tie it at 7-7 and again at 8-8. Purdue then jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the tiebreak, only to see that margin evaporate before winning the final two points. Wooten's clip shot across the net clinched the match and doubles point - Purdue's first in almost a month.
"They (Carpenter and Seyferth) came at us as if they were up 7-4 and we backed off," Wooten said. "They made their serves and returns and we were missing some easy volleys and our rhythm was off. But we kept going after them and that clip shot to win was my best shot of the day. Brooke and I like playing in these big matches because we know we're clutch."
Head coach Laura Giltz agreed and said if a doubles point ever comes down to one match she wants Beier and Wooten on that court.
"They deserved this win, but I give a lot of credit to Wisconsin for picking up the aggression as we backed up," she said. "I told Brooke and Steph to step up on every ball and attack because I felt we were playing too far back at times. Steph came up to take four volleys and got her opponents trapped at the net."
The momentum from their victory carried over to singles. Wooten was the first off the court after dispatching Wisconsin newcomer Emese Kardhoardo in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, and Beier won her seventh match at No. 1 singles, beating Elizabeth Carpenter, 6-3, 6-4.
Boilermaker freshman Joanna Craven clinched the dual with her 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 decision at No. 4 singles over Katya Mirnova.
"Jo has more tools and a better game than her opponent," Glitz said. "She played a little tentative in the second set and was tight going into the ball. But she stepped up in the third and turned the match around, which is what we're looking to get out of her."
Craven also won her match at No. 2 doubles with senior Cigdem Duru, beating Morgan Tuttle and Kardhoardo, 8-5.
Glitz said her team had a good weekend and were very energetic even during its 7-0 loss Saturday to No. 1 Northwestern. However, they'll be challenged once again to keep the energy level high when they welcome Notre Dame for a Wednesday afternoon dual.
"Today's win was a long time coming and provided a big confidence boost to the team, but Notre Dame is going to be tough," Glitz said. "I saw them beat Texas A&M down there 4-3 on a recruiting trip and they're solid all the way down the lineup."
"We need to go after Notre Dame just like we did against Northwestern even though the final score didn't reflect all our efforts," added Wooten. "There were some close games and everyone played really good. Hopefully we can pull off an upset combined with the confidence from today's win."
The Purdue and Notre Dame dual begins at 1 p.m. Admission is free.