WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Eastern Illinois men's tennis squad dropped a tough 5-2 match at Purdue on Monday, opening up the official spring portion of the Panther schedule.
Newcomers
Michael Sperry and
Justin Haag were the lone individual winners for the Panthers, winning each of their matchups in straight sets at No. 5 (6-4, 6-4) and No. 6 (6-3, 6-4) singles, respectively.
The host Boilermakers (2-0) opened the match by taking all three double bouts to earn the all-important duo point.
Jeff Rutherford and
Matyas HIlgert teamed up at the top of the lineup, losing 8-2, while the duos of
Jamie Firth/
Justin Haag and
Warren Race/
Michael Sperry lost at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles by scores of 8-0 and 8-4.
However, even after losing the doubles point, the Panthers were able to even the team scores at 2-2 following the single victories by Haag and Sperry.
Unfortunately, that's as close as the Panthers would EIU get as returner Firth lost in straight sets at No. 3 singles, followed by tough losses by senior Rutherford (4-6, 6-0, 7-5) at the top of the singles lineup, while Matyas eventually lost his No. 2 match by scores of 6-1, 7-5.
Purdue 5, Eastern Illinois 2
Jan 18, 2010 at West Lafayette, Ind.
(Schwartz Tennis Center)
Singles
1. P.J. Rose (PUR) def. RUTHERFORD, Jeff (EIUM) - 4-6, 6-0, 7-5
2. Eric Ramos (PUR) def. HILGERT, Matyas (EIUM) - 6-1, 7-5
3. Paul Foley (PUR) def. RACE, Warren (EIUM) - 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
4. JanFrans Engelbrecht (PUR) def. FIRTH, Jamie (EIUM) - 6-0, 6-1
5. SPERRY, Michael (EIUM) def. Matt Mannasse (PUR) - 6-4, 6-4
6. HAAG, Justin (EIUM) def. Billy Heuer (PUR) - 6-3, 6-4
Doubles
1. Rose/Ramos (PUR) def. RUTHERFORD/HILGERT (EIUM) - 8-2
2. Bijelica/Wilson (PUR) def. FIRTH/HAAG (EIUM) - 8-0
3. Foley/Mannasse (PUR) def. RACE/SPERRY (EIUM) - 8-4
Eastern Illinois 0-1
Purdue 2-0
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,2,6,5,3,1)
T-3:27
