Jan. 16, 2009
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's tennis team fell to Miami University 5-2 Friday on the Basham Courts inside the Schwartz Tennis Center in the season opener for both teams.
"I told the team this is the first match of the season," head coach Laura Glitz said. "We have 19 more. It's early. For us to get better, we have to improve things from this match, work on them in practice and then implement them against Missouri next Friday."
Freshman Jennifer Rabot started her collegiate career on a booming note. The Harlow, Essex, England, native scored Purdue's first point of the match with a quick 6-2, 6-2 victory over Megan Martzolf playing at No. 4 singles.
Fellow freshman Anna Dushkina also got her Purdue career off to a fast start. The Odessa, Ukraine, native earned Purdue's other point as she defeated Riekie Honiball 6-4, 7-6 (2) at the No. 6 singles position.
All three doubles matches ended with scores of 8-4, and Miami won the point after securing two victories. Dushkina teamed with junior co-captain Tatiana Ganzha to win the No. 3 doubles match over Honiball and Brintney Larson, while Miami's Stephanie Danesis and Martzolf defeated co-captain Stephanie Wooten and Michelle Sammons at No. 1 doubles and Monica Gorny and Anastasia Drecheva beat Rabot and Remi Martin at the No. 2 position.
"I felt we were very positive," Dushkina said. "But, we just needed two or three more shots to stay in it. I felt like I was more excited than nervous. We've been working very hard this week, and I am excited about the season."
Dracheva defeated Wooten 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 1 singles position. Danesis earned victory for the RedHawks at No. 2 singles by defeating Sammons 6-2, 6-2. Gorny beat Ganzha 6-4, 6-3 at the No. 3 singles position, and Larson bettered Martin 7-6 (2), 6-3 at No. 5.
The Boilermakers return to action next Friday as they host Missouri at 2 p.m. ET.