March 9, 2002

The Illini women's tennis team took it on the chin this afternoon in West Lafayette, Ind., when the 59th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers upset No. 35 Illinois by the score of 5-2. The loss drops the Fighting Illini to 2-1 on the Big Ten season and 7-6 overall.

Purdue jumped out to a 1-0 lead with victories at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles. Melissa Iqbal and Lara Burgarello posted an 8-5 decision over Illinois' Kate Boomershine and Tiffany Eklov while Missy Wright and Gretchen Haynor outlasted the Illini duo of Michelle Webb and Cynthya Goulet. Jennifer McGaffigan and Eva Choe did manage to salvage a 9-7 victory for the Illini at No. 2 doubles against fiftieth-ranked Melissa Woods and Lynsey Fick in a reunion of sorts. Fick, a senior, and McGaffigan, a sophomore, both played at Bettendorf High School on the Iowa side of the border in the Quad Cities.

Illinois did manage victories at Nos. 4 and 5 singles. Freshman Kate Boomershine won in straight sets at No. 5 over Shawna Zuccarini, and Tiffany Eklov dispatched Lara Burgarello in similar fashion. Trouble was, that would be all the scoring the Orange and Blue would get. Goulet had to retire due to injury in her contest at No. 2, No. 43 Jennifer McGaffigan picked up her first loss of the Big Ten season at No. 1, Eldina Fazlic fell at No. 6, and in the clincher at No. 3, the Boilermakers' Melissa Woods beat UI sophomore Eva Choe, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.

"Purdue played very well this afternoon," said Illini Head Coach Sujay Lama. "You have to give them credit. I was disappointed in our overall effort. We came out flat, and we were not ready to compete against a very good team. Still, we had match point in one of the doubles matches, but couldn't put it away. Hopefully, we can come back and play better tomorrow."

That's when the Fighting Illini play at No. 32 Indiana in a 1 p.m. contest Sunday in Bloomington to complete the weekend excursion into the Hoosier State.

Today's Illinois Results: PURDUE 5, ILLINOIS 2

Singles
1. Melissa Iqbal (PUR) def. No. 43 Jennifer McGaffigan (ILL)     7-6, 6-3
2. Gretchen Haynor (PUR) def. Cynthia Goulet (ILL)               6-3, 4-1 ret.
3. Melissa Woods (PUR) def. Eva Choe (ILL)                       6-2, 2-6, 6-2
4. Tiffany Eklov (ILL) def.  Lara Burgarello (PUR)               6-4, 6-3
5. Kate Boomershine (ILL) def. Shawna Zuccarini (PUR)            7-5, 6-3
6. Amy Walgenbach (PUR) def. Eldina Fazlic (ILL)                 6-4, 7-6

Doubles

1. Missy Wright/Gretchen Haynor (PUR) def. Michelle Webb/Cynthya Goulet (ILL) 9-7

2. Jennifer McGaffigan/Eva Choe (ILL) def. Lynsey Fick/Melissa Woods (PUR) 9-7

3. Melissa Iqbal/Lara Burgarello (PUR) def. Kate Boomershine/TiffanyEklov (ILL) 8-5