WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women's team secured its second win of the weekend against Tulsa as Ena Babic sealed a win in singles over the No. 84 player in the nation.
The Boilermakers had a challenge in the opening doubles point. Alex Sabe and Ena Babic struck first with a 6-3 victory at No. 3 over Shura Poppe and Elodie Foster.
Unfortunately, the win was not enough. Nathalia Wolf Gasparin and Zala Dovnik dropped a tough 6-4 match to the No. 34-ranked pair Martina Okalova and Vera Ploner at No. 1 followed by a 7-5 loss at No. 2 giving the Golden Hurricanes the 1-0 advantage heading into singles play.
The Boilermakers burst into singles play taking the first set in five of the six matches. Nikol Dobrilova put Purdue on the board with a dominating 6-0, 6-3 victory over Laia Conde Monfort at No. 4.
Dovnik evened the score with a win over Lian Benedejcic at No. 5 6-3, 6-2. Freshman Csilla Fodor fought relentlessly and defeated Marina Davtyan 7-5, 6-4 at No. 6 to put Purdue one point away from sealing the win.
Babic clinched the Boilermaker victory by defeating the No. 84-ranked Martina Okalova in an emotional 6-2, 7-6(5) grudge match at No. 1. Babic is now 2-0 against ranked opponents this year.
Alex Sabe was leading her match by a close margin 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 when play was halted.
PURDUE (5-5) 4, TULSA (5-4) 2
SINGLES
1. Ena Babic (PUR) def. No. 84 Martina Okalova (TUL) 6-2, 7-6(5)
2. Shura Poppe (TUL) def. Seira Shimizu (PUR) 6-3, 6-1
3. Alex Sabe (PUR) vs. Vera Ploner (TUL) 5-7, 6-4, 1-0
4. Nikol Dobrilova (PUR) def. Laia Conde Monfort (TUL) 6-0, 6-3
5. Zala Dovnik (PUR) def. Lian Benedejcic (TUL) 6-3, 6-2
6. Csilla Fodor (PUR) def. Marina Davtyan (TUL) 7-5, 6-4
DOUBLES
1. No. 34 Martina Okalova/Vera Ploner (TUL) def. Nathalia Wolf Gasparin/Zala Dovnik (PUR) 6-4
2. Megan Hopton/Laia Conde Monfort (TUL) def. Seira Shimizu/Nikol Dobrilova (PUR) 7-5
3. Alex Sabe/Ena Babic (PUR) def. Shura Poppe/Elodie Foster (TUL) 6-3
Singles order: 4, 2, 5, 6, 1
Doubles order: 3, 1, 2
UP NEXT
Purdue returns to the Schwartz Tennis Center Feb. 27 to take on Ohio State at 5 p.m. followed by a match against Oklahoma on Feb. 29 at noon.
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