April 23, 2011
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The 68th-ranked Purdue women's tennis team faced Penn State on Saturday in just the second outdoor home stand for the Boilermakers. The Schwartz Tennis Center was all pink in support of the Old Gold and Black's Breast Cancer Awareness Day.
Purdue grabbed its 19th consecutive win over the Nittany Lions with a 6-1 victory. Purdue faced the Nittany Lions twice last year, claiming both doubles points in the regular season 5-2 win and the 4-0 triumph of the conference tournament's first round.
The Old Gold and Black were 3-for-3 in doubles for their seveth sweep of the season. Jennifer Rabot and Mara Schmidt jumped out to a 5-1 lead over Petra Januskova and Denisa Zobeideh, but allowed the Nittany Lion pair the game after at 5-2. Rabot and Schmidt advanced to 7-2, but Januskova and Zobeideh took back two games to 7-4. The Purdue pair closed the match 8-4 at No. 1.
At No. 2 doubles Anna Dushkina and Gisella Pere faced Amy Simidian and Marie-Frederique Bedard for a 5-2 lead for the Boilermakers. The Boilermakers clinched with an 8-4 win over the Penn State duo.
For the sweep senior Bhavani Tirumurti and sophomore Imogen Golder battled Carmen Sandor and Fernanda Perrotta for draws at 3-all and 6-all until forcing the tiebreaker at 8-8. Tirumurti and Golder escaped with the tiebreaker and win 9-8 (7-5).
First to claim victory was Imogen Golder with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Marie-Frederique Bedard at No. 5 singles for the Auckland, New Zealand native's 16th win of the season.
For Purdue's third overall point, Anna Dushkina seized her tenth win of the spring over Carmen Sandor 6-3, 6-1.
Mara Schmidt clinched the match for the Boilermakers with her fifth two-set win in the third singles spot. Purdue's only freshman beat Denisa Zobeideh 6-3, 6-0 at No. 3.
At No. 2 singles, Bhavani Tirumurti lost her first set to Amy Simidian 4-6, but came back in the second 6-4, forcing the tiebreaker. Tirumurti got out to a 6-1 lead in the tiebreaker, allowing Simidian to get the next point at 6-2. Tirumurti won the next four points to win the dual 4-6, 6-4, (10-2).
The sixth point came from Gisella Pere 6-4, 6-2 over Fernanda Perrotta on the sixth court.
Coming off the biggest upset of her career toppling No. 13 Maria Mosolova (Northwestern), Jennifer Rabot struggled in the first set against Januskova 6-2, but netted her way back to a second set win 6-3. The tiebreaker started out even at 3-all, but Januskova took the next three points to 6-3. The Purdue junior made her way back to even at 7-7 and hoped to claim her second win in a week, but Januskova won the tiebreaker and match 6-2, 3-6, (10-8).
The Boilermakers host No. 62 Ohio State on Sunday at noon ET at the Schwartz Tennis Center.
Purdue's biggest upset of 2010 came against the Buckeye's when the No. 57 Boilermakers edged No. 30 Ohio State 4-3 at the Schwartz Tennis Center. Rabot, Tirumurti and Pere grabbed singles wins in that match. Rabot and doubles partner Michelle Sammons beat Kelsey Haviland and Cami Hubbs 8-3 while Golder and Tirumurti defeated Gabby Steele and Fidan Manashirova 8-5 for the doubles point. Purdue had not won that matchup in the three years previous and are 21-22 in the overall series tally.
Come celebrate Senior Day on Sunday with the Purdue women and support Bhavani Tirumurti in commenoration of her time spent as a Boilermaker.
There is no admission to the Schwartz Tennis Center. Free pizza will be offered to all Purdue women's tennis fans. For live scoring, please visit purduesports.com.
No. 68 Purdue vs. Penn State - Agate
Apr. 23, 2011
West Lafayette, Ind. - Schwartz Tennis Center
Purdue (12-7, 6-3) 6, Penn State (7-14, 2-7) 1
Doubles
1. No. 54 Jennifer Rabot/Mara Schmidt (Purdue) def. Petra Januskova/Denisa Zobeideh (PSU) 8-4
2. Gisella Pere/Anna Dushkina (Purdue) def. Amy Simidian/Marie-Frederique Bedard (PSU) 8-4
3. Imogen Golder/Bhavani Tirumurti (Purdue) def. Carmen Sandor/Fernanda Perrotta (PSU) 9-8 (7-5)
Order of Finish: 1, 2*, 3
Singles
1. Petra Januskova (PSU) def. Jennifer Rabot (Purdue) 6-2, 3-6, (10-8)
2. Bhavani Tirumurti (Purdue) def. Amy Simidian (PSU) 4-6, 6-4, (10-2)
3. Mara Schmidt (Purdue) def. Denisa Zobeideh (PSU) 6-3, 6-0
4. Anna Dushkina (Purdue) def. Carmen Sandor (PSU) 6-3, 6-1
5. Imogen Golder (Purdue) def. Marie-Frederique Bedard (PSU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Gisella Pere (Purdue) def. Fernanda Perrotta (PSU) 6-4, 6-2
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 3*, 2, 6, 1