University of Minnesota Athletics
WOMEN'S TENNIS TEAM HOSTS MICHIGAN STATE AND MICHIGAN
3/20/2001 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Minnesota (7-3 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) will be hosting its first Big Ten matches of the season this weekend. The Golden Gophers host Michigan State on Friday at 7 p.m. and Michigan on Sunday at 10 a.m. Both matches will be played at the Northwest Athletic Club in Bloomington. Friday's match will be played in conjunction with the men's tennis team, which will be hosting Penn State. The men's match will start at 6 p.m. and the women's match will start at 7 p.m.
About The Golden Gophers
Minnesota hosted Drake on Friday, improving its all-time series record against Drake to 20-1 by defeating the Bulldogs 6-1. Minnesota notched the doubles point by winning the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. The No. 1 team of first-year Valerie Vladea (Kitchener, Ontario, Burlington Central) and sophomore Michaela Havelkova (Liberec, Czech Republic, Gymnazium F.X. Saldy) improved its record to 9-1. Minnesota also won five of six singles matches.
The National Ranking
The Golden Gophers are tied for 60th in the latest national ranking, released March 14. Minnesota is one of 10 Big Ten Conference teams listed among the nation's top 75 teams. Northwestern leads the way in a tie at No. 8, followed by Ohio State at No. 21 and Illinois at No. 23. Rounding out the conference teams: Iowa (40), Indiana (41), Penn State (59), Minnesota (tied, 60), Michigan (62), Purdue (68), and Wisconsin (tied, 75).
About The Opponents
Michigan State not played since March 8 and is currently 6-7 overall, 0-2 in the BigTen. Michigan is currently 4-6 overall, 0-2 in the Big Ten. In their last match, the Wolverines snapped a six-match losing streak by defeating Western Michigan 6-1 Wednesday at home.
Minnesota holds an 18-8 advantage all-time against Michigan State, while the Gophers and Wolverines have a 13-13 all-time record. The Golden Gophers have defeated both Michigan schools in each of the last two seasons.
Up Next
Minnesota travels to South Florida on March 30. The Golden Gophers will host their final home matches of the season April 13 and 15 against Northwestern and Illinois, respectively.
