The second day of the Schwartz Tennis Challenge was a tough, yet still successful one as several Boilermakers were burned by third set tiebreakers.
On Saturday morning, the Boilermakers faced the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, a team that finished last season ranked No. 13 in the nation and returns four seniors. At No. 1, Jennifer Rabot had things going well early for Purdue as she got out to a set lead with a 6-2 win. However, O'Neill, the No. 21 ranked individual nationally, bounced back in the second with a 6-4 win of her own to force a third set tiebreak. O'Neill was able to hold on and win the tiebreak 10-5.
Freshman Lynda Xepoleas put in a fantastic effort at No. 2 as she won the final eight games of her match over Kilborn to claim a 7-5, 6-0 victory. Sophomore Mara Schmidt went back and forth for her entire match against the No. 44 player in the country, Ngo. In the end, though, Schmidt fell in a heartbreaker, 6-3, 3-6, 10-7, at No. 3. Daniela Vidal also had a very tough, close match at No. 4 against the Blau, the No. 124 player in the country. After dropping the first set, 6-3, Vidal battled back and forth in the second before eventually falling in that one, too, 7-5.
Gisella Pere also fell victim to the misfortunes of a third set tiebreaker. The junior dropped the first set, 6-2, but rallied in the second to even it up with a 6-3 win. However, in the tiebreaker, she lost, 10-6, at No. 5. Imogen Golder also had her chances at No. 6 against the No. 81 ranked player in the country, Anghelescu. Golder battled tough for two sets, but dropped both, each with a score of 6-4.
In the afternoon, the Boilermakers faced Big Ten rival Illinois. Rabot battled at No. 1 against Lambropolous and quickly found herself down a set after dropping the first, 6-3. However, the senior from England bounced back in a big way, blanking the Fighting Illini fifth year senior, 6-0. The tiebreak went back and forth, but the pattern of the day for the Boilermakers continued as Rabot fell, 10-8.
Xepoleas found herself in a tiebreak after winning the first set, 6-4, and dropping the second, 3-6, at No. 2 against Kopinski. As the theme of the day continued, the Boilermaker freshman dropped a heartbreaker, 11-9, to lose the match. Schmidt found herself on the positive end of a first set tiebreak as she held on, 7-6 (4). The sophomore carried the momentum into the second set and finished off Allin at No. 2, 6-2. At No. 4, Illinois' Falkin topped Vidal, 6-1, 6-2. Pere was consistent at No. 5 as she knocked off Smutko, 6-3, 6-3. Dushkina put together a beautiful performance at No. 6 as she blanked Jamieson, 6-0, 6-0.
If the match were a true dual, the score between Illinois and Purdue would be knotted at three with doubles play to be the determining factor. That doubles match is scheduled to take place on Sunday at approximately 11:15 a.m. ET.
Purdue opens Sunday's play at 9 AM in doubles play against Big Ten foe, Iowa. He Boilermakers took five of the six singles matches against the Hawkeyes on Friday.
http://www.purduesports.com/sports/w-tennis/recaps/110511aab.html
Monday, November 7, 2011
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