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t e n n i s u p d a t e Heightened Expectations Tennis teams off to fast starts with women hoping to defend Big Ten crown BY BRANDAN ALFORD BrandanAlford@Gmail.com A season ago, Coach Laura Glitz guided Purdue women���s tennis team to its first Big Ten tournament title in program history ��� and she hopes that success will be just the beginning. The Boilers started the 2013 spring season with a 3-1 record, ascending to the highest ranking in program history, at No. 20 following an upset over No. 15 Notre Dame. ���I don���t think we���ve played our best yet,��� Glitz said in mid-February. ���We just had some good wins over Notre Dame and Washington State, and those are good signs. But we still are not at the top of our game; we still can improve.��� Purdue has been tested early this spring, facing three ranked opponents in its first dual matches, notching upset wins over the Cougars and Fighting Irish and losing a 4-3 match to No. 14 Tom Campbell Northwestern. Purdue���s women���s tennis was one of the surprises of the spring last year, posting the school���s first Big Ten title in the sport. Above, Glitz believes the confer- Coach Laura Glitz poses around the trophy with sophomore Lynda Xepoleas (left) and Mara Schmidt. ence tournament title ��� Purdue won four matches in four Glitz is looking to define the culture of a Purdue a great job as role models and mentoring younger days and defeated three ranked opponents ��� program that is on the upswing. But even as Pur- players,��� Schmidt said. ���This year, that has been has served as a catalyst in breeding a success- due continues to build momentum, it will be tested tough, but no one player has tried to do it all on their ful environment. own; we have each taken parts of that leadership.��� in another deep, talented Big Ten conference. ���We have a young team overall, but the proAlong with Northwestern, No. 13 Michigan and gram is headed in the right direction,��� she said. No. 15 Nebraska give the conBoiler MEn ���I think we really saw a breakthrough in winning ference four teams among the looking to that title. That attitude has carried over this year nation���s top 20. establish and those expectations are higher because of it.��� ���The Big Ten is even better identity All but one player from last year���s starting than it has been in past years,��� The Purdue men���s tennis lineup have returned this spring, while the Boil- Glitz said. ���We are anticipating team is enjoying one of its best ers have added a pair of freshmen who have con- that we can do well, but we don���t seasons in years, excelling in tributed immediately in doubles competition. The take anything lightly in this nonconference play and jumpBoilers have enjoyed the benefit of a deep roster conference.��� ing out to a 9-2 record in dual with a high level of competition to break into the While Purdue only replaced matches. lineup. one player from the starting According to coach Paw���Right now, we have seven players that could lineup from a year ago, the Boilel Gajdzik, this group is just play in our lineup, and I want to see who can ers graduated a senior class that scratching the surface. In his come through when in matters,��� Glitz said. ���I served as the team���s leadership fourth season at the helm of the want to know who is going to come through core. This year���s upperclassmen Boilers, Gajdzik is finally enwhen the match is tied 3-3 and we need that fi- are still figuring out how to take joying the benefits of an expeAaron Dujovne nal point. up that leadership. rienced crop of upperclassmen ���So far this season, every time we have been in Junior Mara Schmidt acthat understand his system and 3-3 situations, my girls have come through.��� knowledged that it is still a work in progress fig- what it takes to succeed at a high level. Excelling in crunch time ��� getting that crucial uring out how that leadership will develop. ���When I got here, we had a group of freshmen fourth point for the team ��� is the type of identity ���Last year���s seniors were great leaders and did that were in our starting lineup and playing a lot,��� 62 ��� Gold & Black IllustrateD ��� volume 23, issue 4 GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com