April 2, 2011
URBANA, Ill. - The Purdue women's tennis team dropped a heartbreaking dual to Illinois on Saturday as part of the first match of a road-weekend doubleheader.
This is the fourth road dual the Old Gold and Black has taken on, not having played at home since the 4-3 defeat of then-No. 47 Indiana on March 12.
The doubles point was closely contested with all courts grinding to with a 3-all starts. At No. 1 Jennifer Rabot and Mara Schmidt dropped a break to 20th-ranked Rachael White and Allison Falkin to fall to 5-3, but struck back to level at 5-5. The Illini pair pulled ahead at 7-5 and stayed ahead to close 8-6.
Anna Dushkina and Gisella Pere at second doubles grabbed a 5-3 lead over Leigh Finnegan and Amy Allin, but Illinois once again bested a Purdue pair first at 5-all and before winning 8-6 and clinching the doubles point.
It was equally as tight at No. 3 with Bhavani Tirumurti and Imogen Golder holding a 5-3 upper hand to Annie McCarthy and Chelcie Abajian. For the third time on the day, a 5-5 tie turned into a 8-6 Illini triumph.
Claiming the Illini's second overall point was Allin over Rabot at No. 1 singles 6-1, 6-3.
Purdue came back with a 6-2, 6-1 answer from Schmidt over Breanne Smutko in the second spot.
Pere had jumped out to a strong lead over Misia Kedzierski with a 6-0 first set. Kedzierski challenged Pere in the second forcing 3-3 early, but the Boilermaker was too strong taking Purdue's second overall notch and evening 2-2.
Tirumurti was narrowly edged by No. 96 Rachael White in their first set 7-6 (8-6). The Purdue senior stayed tough coming back from a 1-3 deficit to pull even at 4-all. White proved her rank overcoming Tirumurti 7-6 (8-6), 7-5.
At No. 5 Golder was bested by Falkin 6-7 (6-8) in set No. 1. The Purdue netter looked to be in control of the second set 5-1, but Falkin battled back drawing even at 5-all. Golder carried out the set with a 7-6 (7-5) triumph and continued her success in the deciding frame, taking down Falkin 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
The clinching point came down to Dushkina and Abajian in the Boilermaker's first appearance of the season at No. 3 singles. Abajian came down hard in the first, taking the lead 6-1, but Dushkina struck back with a 3-3 start to the second. Again the Illini netted her way to a small lead 5-3, but Dushkina matched her at 6-all. Finally, the Boilermaker took her turn, winning the second set 7-6 (7-1). Staying tough on Dushkina, Abajian led the third set at 4-2 and again at 5-3, before clinching for Illinois, 6-1, 6-7 (1-7), 6-3.
The Boilermakers travel to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes on Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET match.
No. 58 Purdue vs. Illinois - Agate
Apr. 2, 2011
Urbana, Ill. - Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex
Illinois (5-8, 2-1) 4, Purdue (8-6, 2-2) 3
Doubles
1. No. 20 Rachael White/Allison Falkin (ILL) def. No. 38 Jennifer Rabot/Mara Schmidt (Purdue) 8-6
2. Leigh Finnegan/Amy Allin (ILL) def. Anna Dushkina/Gisella Pere (Purdue) 8-6
3. Annie McCarthy/Chelcie Abajian (ILL) def. Bhavani Tirumurti/Imogen Golder (Purdue) 8-6
Order of Finish: 2, 1*, 3
Singles
1. Amy Allin (ILL) def. Jennifer Rabot (Purdue) 6-1, 6-3
2. No. 96 Rachael White (ILL) def. Bhavani Tirumurti (Purdue) 7-6 (7-3), 7-5
3. Chelcie Abajian (ILL) def. Anna Dushkina (Purdue) 6-1, 6-7 (1-7), 6-3
4. Mara Schmidt (Purdue) def. Breanne Smutko (ILL) 6-2, 6-1
5. Imogen Golder (Purdue) def. Allison Falkin (ILL) 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
6. Gisella Pere (Purdue) def. Misia Kedzierski (ILL) 6-0, 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 4, 6, 2, 5, 3*