Wednesday, 02/13/2013

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's tennis team returned to the top 25 this week for just the second time in program history. The Boilermakers checked in at No. 24, the second highest ranking in Purdue history.

The Boilermakers are 2-1 on the season with wins over No. 35 Washington State and Marshall. The lone loss on the season was 4-3 at No. 10 Northwestern. The highest ranking in program history was No. 22 which came last year on May 8, right after the team won the Big Ten Tournament Championship. The team finished that season ranked 26th. In singles action, Lynda Xepoleas stays in the rankings at No. 105 in the country.

Prior to this week, Purdue has sat just outside the top 25 all season. The team began the year 27th. In the following two polls, the team was ranked No. 26 in the nation which matched the previous second-best ranking in program history.

The Big Ten has four teams ranked in the top 25 nationally. Northwestern leads the group with their No. 10 ranking while Michigan is close behind at No. 13. Nebraska is the third highest ranked Big Ten team at No. 15 while Purdue is No. 24. The Big Ten has 10 teams ranked in the top 75.

The Boilermakers have an opportunity to move up in the rankings this weekend as the team travels to South Bend, Ind., to take on the No. 19 Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Friday. Notre Dame is 5-1 on the season and is coming off an improbable come-from-behind victory over Iowa where the Irish were down 3-0 before prevailing 4-3. Notre Dame is 2-1 against the Big Ten this season with wins over Iowa and Illinois, 4-3, and a 4-1 loss at Nebraska.