Boilers Face Drake in First Road Match

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.- The Purdue men’s tennis team will hit the road for the first time as they take on the Drake Bulldogs on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m.

The Boilermakers are coming off a 1-5 start to the season. While the wins haven’t piled up, the squad has shown some incredible fight. The Boilers have found their stride in doubles play, winning two of the last three points, and three of the first six.

Both experienced players and new additions have had flashes of excellence throughout the first few matches. Mujtaba Ali-Khan is 4-2 after a weekend where he went 1-1 in his move up to No. 3. The freshman has hit the ground running and has provided a boost to the middle of the Boilermakers lineup. Michal Wozniak has made a splash to start his senior season by opening up with a 4-2 record in singles and 3-2 in doubles. He began his run at No. 2 but after riding a three-match winning streak, he was elevated to No. 1 for the first time in his career. 

The Bulldogs welcome the Boilermakers to Des Moines with a 4-3 record. Purdue will face its first ranked opponent of the season after junior Jeremy Schifris was listed at No. 68 in the first ITA Top 125 Singles Rankings of 2023.

MATCH INFORMATION

Purdue (1-5) at Drake (4-3)

Roger Knapp Tennis Center

Saturday, Feb. 11 | 6 p.m. (ET)

NOTES

• This is the first of seven road matches the Boilers will play this season.
• The Boilers are 4-2 all-time against the Bulldogs. The last meeting was a 4-2 victory in Schwartz on 3/1/2020.
• Mujtaba Ali-Khan and Michal Wozniak are both 4-2 in singles.
• Wozniak went 1-1 in his career debut at No. 1 this past weekend.
• Purdue is 3-3 in singles at No. 2, 3, and 4.
• The Boilers have yet to record a win at No. 5 this season.
• Julen Morgan recorded his first win of the season against Dartmouth at No. 6. He is a career 2-4 at No. 6 after the victory.
• Wozniak’s 4-2 start to the spring is the best of his career. He is also three wins away from his career-high seven spring wins.
• Drake’s Jeremy Schifris is ranked No. 68 in the ITA Top 125 Singles Rankings (Feb. 8). None of the current Boilermakers have ever recorded a win over a nationally ranked opponent.
• Purdue and Drake play seven common opponents this season. Purdue is currently 0-2 against those opponents while Drake is 0-1.
• Drake will face five Big Ten opponents this…