Cincinnati Box Score / Butler Box Score
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - For the third year in a row, the Purdue women's tennis team opens its spring season 2-0, including a win over instate foe Butler. In 2016 and 2017, the Boilermakers defeated the Bulldogs 6-1 and 7-0, respectively, and on Saturday, the program matched last year's mark during the second match of Purdue's doubleheader. The team opened the day with a 5-2 win over Cincinnati.
No. 86 Silvia Ambrosio led the way for the Boilermakers on court one, besting the Bearcats' Iona Guna 6-3, 6-2 and the Bulldogs' Bailey Padgett 6-1, 6-1. Freshman Seira Shimizu and sophomore Alex Sabe also notched a pair of victories in Saturday's doubleheader. The newcomer finished first in both dual matches, making quick work of Cincinnati's Anna Philp 6-2, 6-3 on court six and Butler's Lauren Marx 6-0, 6-0 on court four. Sabe won both of her matches in straight sets as well on court two, first defeating Alexia Coutina 6-0, 6-3 and then Rachel Sutton 6-3, 6-0.
Rafaella Baquerizo and Caitlin Calkins each secured a victory in their sole appearance of the day. Facing the Bearcats, Baquerizo beat Emma Miceli 6-3, 6-2 on court four, while Calkins overpowered Bulldog Carla O'Byrne 6-0, 6-1 on court six.
Freshmen Ena Babic and Zala Dovnik struggled against Cincinnati in the pair's first dual match, but quickly found their footing against Butler. Babic convincingly knocked off Emily Neal 6-1, 6-1 on court three, and Dovnik outlasted Nina Bertino 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5) on court five.
In doubles, the Boilermakers finished a perfect 6-0 against the field.
Purdue returns to action against Ole Miss on Saturday at 10 a.m. ET. The Big Ten-SEC competition will be played indoors on the Basham Courts at the Schwartz Tennis Center and is the first of three events on the day. The Purdue men's tennis team is scheduled to face Louisville at 2 p.m. and Detroit Mercy at 6 p.m.