WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Last time out, the Purdue women's tennis team defeated its first ranked opponent of the season; however, the program struggled against No. 46 Notre Dame at home Sunday. After surrendering the doubles point, the Boilermakers fell in five of the six singles matches to finish 6-1. The tally marks the third time this spring that the team earned one point or less.
On court three, Zala Dovnik and Alex Sabe exited first in doubles, falling to Rachel Chong and Bess Waldram 6-3. Purdue's Silvia Ambrosio and Ena Babic then evened the score, defeating Brooke Broda and Allison Miller 7-5 on court one; however, teammates Rafaella Baquerizo and Seira Shimizu were edged out by Cameron Corse and Zoe Spence 7-5 on court two.
In singles, four of the six contests were decided in the third, as Dovnik and Sabe were the only players to fall in straight sets. The first was bested by Ally Bojczuk 6-4, 6-3 on court six in the first match off, while the later exited fourth in a 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 loss to Course at the second position.
Spence, who finished her match second, added to Fighting Irish's early lead, defeating Babic 7-5, 1-6, 6-1 on court three. While in the third match off, Shimizu provided the Boilermakers their sole point of the dual. The newcomer overpowered Caroline Dunleavy 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 at the fifth position.
To close the ACC-Big Ten contest, Purdue fell on courts one and four, respectively. Ambrosio exited the first position in a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 loss to Miller, and Baquerizo walked off the fourth after her 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) slip to Chong.
Up next, the Boilermakers enter conference play with trips to Northwestern and Illinois. Purdue will first face the Wildcats on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET, followed by the Fighting Illini on Sunday at 4 p.m.