Women's Tennis to Close Regular Season at Schwartz

MATCH INFORMATION:
Saturday, April 19 | 12 p.m. ET
#60 Purdue (11-7, 5-6 Big Ten) vs #50 Northwestern (11-12, 4-7 Big Ten)
Schwartz Tennis Center | West Lafayette, Ind.
 
Sunday, April 20 | 12 p.m. ET
#60 Purdue (11-7, 5-6 Big Ten) vs #42 Illinois (11-11, 6-5 Big Ten)
Schwartz Tennis Center | West Lafayette, Ind.
 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – With only two matches remaining in the regular season, the Boilermaker women's tennis squad is back in West Lafayette to close things out at home. Purdue will host Northwestern on Saturday at noon, then celebrate Senior Day against Illinois on Sunday at noon.
 
WHAT TO KNOW:

• The Purdue women's tennis team got back on track with a 4-2 win over Minnesota on Sunday afternoon. The victory moves the Boilermakers to 11-7 overall and 5-6 in Big Ten play, currently placing them 10th in the conference standings.
• The Boilermakers are vying for a spot in the Big Ten tournament, hosted April 23-26 in Ojai, California, with the top 12 teams earning a bid. Entering the weekend, Purdue (5-6), Illinois (6-5), Michigan State (5-7), Penn State (4-7) and Northwestern (4-7) are considered bubble teams
• The weekend was highlighted by freshman Kathryn Wilson picking up two straight wins including, a 7-6, 6-4 victory vs. Minnesota's Arina Valitova at the No. 6 spot. The win boosts Wilson's spring record to 6-4.
• Purdue will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday by honoring three seniors: Carmen Gallardo Guevara, Tara Katarina Milic, and Juana Larranaga.
• Carmen Gallardo Guevara has put together a standout career at Purdue, recording three 20-win singles seasons and earning All-Big Ten honors in 2023. She ranks seventh all-time in program history with 80 singles wins, becoming just the third Boilermaker this century to reach that milestone. In doubles, she has amassed 58 wins and is just one victory away from tying for 15th all-time.
• Juana Larranaga, a senior from Tandil, Argentina, has put together an impressive final season, delivering the match-clinching point for Purdue on three separate occasions. She was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team in both 2023 and 2024, and earned ITA Scholar-Athlete honors in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
• Tara Katarina Milic's victory alongside Fatima Gutierrez in the doubles' No. 1 spot at Minnesota (W, 7-6), marked her 59th career win, moving the senior to rank 15th in program history. Milic is the first Boilermaker to reach the benchmark since a pair of Boilermakers did so in 2015: Lynda Xepoleas (2012-15, 76 wins) and current assistant coach and Purdue alum Dani Vidal (2012-15, record-holder with 92 wins).
• Milic earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2023 and was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete in 2022. She is also a three-time letterwinner, having earned the distinction in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

LOOKING AHEAD:

• No. 50 Northwestern women's tennis (11-12, 4-7 Big Ten) fell 4-1 to the No. 42 Illinois Fighting Illini (11-11, 6-5 Big Ten) on Saturday at Vandy Christie Tennis Center to close out the home portion of their regular-season schedule.
• Northwestern boasts one ranked singles player in No. 117 Sydney Pratt, who owns a team-leading 15 singles wins this season.
• In their match against Northwestern, the Fighting Illini secured their 14th doubles point of the season, striking first against the Wildcats. Illinois has now claimed the opening point in eight Big Ten matches this year.
• The Illini secured a 6-1 win at No. 1 doubles, marking a second straight upset for the No. 81-ranked duo of Megan Heuser and Kida Ferrari. With the win over Northwestern's No. 72-ranked Britany Lau and Mika Dagan Fruchtman, Heuser and Ferrari improved to 7-10 on the season and 4-4 in Big Ten play.
• The all-time series between Purdue and Illinois has been a competitive one, with the Fighting Illini holding the 37-31 edge.