Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Purdue
Northwestern Drops Big Ten Battle, 5-2
3/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 30, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern was unable to come from behind and overcome its injuries in a 5-2 loss against Purdue on Sunday. The Wildcats fall to 7-11 in dual play this season and still continue their search for a Big Ten victory.
The 'Cats lost the doubles point and went down 1-0 for the day after losing at two-of-three courts. Andrew McCarthy (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) and David Seyferth (Ann Arbor Mich./Ann Arbor Pioneer) were the first to bow out after an 8-3 defeat at No. 3.
At No. 1, the 55th-ranked duo of Alex Sanborn (Houston, Texas/Kinkaid) and Marc Dwyer (Peachtree City, Ga./Independent Study H.S.) were victorious 8-6 in an exciting match, giving the 'Cats hope to salvage the doubles point. However, after a back-and-forth match at No. 2, Alexander Thams (Stockholm, Sweden/Enskilda Gymnasiet) and Peter Rispoli (Naples, Fla./St. Stephens (Texas)) were unable to come from behind and lost the match, 8-5.
The Wildcats went down 2-0 when McCarthy was injured in his singles match at No. 5. Despite leading the first set 3-1, he appeared to pull a muscle and was no longer able to compete. Leading the match 3-2 McCarthy was forced to end his afternoon, giving Eric Ramos the win by retirement and Purdue a 2-0 lead.
Alex Sanborn fought hard, but was unable to pull the momentum away from his opponent at No. 2 and fell in straight sets, 6-0, 6-4, giving the Boilermakers a 3-0 match lead. Purdue clinched the match victory when it took a 4-0 lead after Thams was defeated 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3.
At No. 6, Juan Gomez (Mexico City, Mexico/South Florida) put on his second impressive performance in as many days, this time pulling out the victory, 6-2, 7-5. With the 'Cats trailing 4-1 Peter Rispoli gave it his all until the very end, but lost a heartbreaker at No. 4, 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (7).
Junior Marc Dwyer impressed the crowd with his performance at No. 1 and earned Northwestern its second match point. In the longest match of the day, Dwyer was able to stave off his opponent in a tight match and took the win 6-1, 1-6, 6-2.
Northwestern has five dual matches remaining before the start of Big Ten Championships. The Wildcats will hit the road in search of their first Big Ten victory next weekend. The 'Cats travel to Columbus, Ohio to take-on Ohio State at 11 a.m. Friday, April 4 and round-out the weekend with a trip to Bloomington, Ind. to face Indiana at noon Sunday, April 6.
Singles
1. Marc Dwyer (NU) def. Branko Kuzmanovic (PUR) 6-1, 1-6, 6-2
2. Slavko Bijelica (PUR) def. Alex Sanborn (NU) 6-0, 6-4
3. P.J. Rose (PUR) def. Alexander Thams (NU) 6-4, 6-1
4. Griff Nienberg (PUR) def. Peter Rispoli (NU) 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (10-7)
5. Eric Ramos (PUR) def. Andrew McCarthy (NU) 2-3, retired
6. Juan Gomez (NU) def. Paul Foley (PUR) 6-2, 7-5
Doubles
1. #55 Marc Dwyer/Alex Sanborn (NU) def. Branko Kuzmanovic/P.J. Rose (PUR) 8-6
2. Griff Nienberg/Slavko Bijelica (PUR) def. Peter Rispoli/Alexander Thams (NU) 8-5
3. Eric Ramos/Jose Fuemayor (PUR) def. Andrew McCarthy/David Seyferth (NU) 8-3
Match Notes
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (,2,3,6,4,1)
