University of Minnesota Athletics
TENNIS TEAM CONCLUDES SIXTH-CONSECUTIVE WINNING SEASON
5/2/2001 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Minnesota finished their 2000-2001 season after losing in the Big Ten Tournament to Purdue on Thursday, April 26, 2001, in Columbus, Ohio.
Minnesota against Purdue
Minnesota was the No. 8 seed heading into the tournament and faced No. 9 Purdue. The Gophers lost 4-1, with three matches abandoned. Minnesota lost the doubles point after Purdue took the No. 1 and No. 3 matches. The No. 2 match between Minnesota's Tammy Wang (Grand Island, Neb./ Grand Island) and Amy Thomas (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) vs. Purdue's Melissa Iqbal and Lynsey Fick was abandoned at 7-7.
As for the singles side, the point came from No. 2 Amy Thomas who won her match 7-5, 6-2. She defeated Melissa Iqbal of Purdue. Purdue earned victories at the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 6 spots. Matches at the No. 4 and No. 5 positions were then abandoned, resulting in the final score of 4-1.
Northwestern went on to win the Big Ten championship for the third consecutvie year. The Wildcats topped the No. 2 seed Illinois, 4-2, in the final. They receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which begins May 11 at various sites.
The National Ranking
Minnesota fell out of the national ranking for the first time since the beginning of the season. The Gophers had been ranked No. 71. Northwestern leads the Big Ten conference No. 9, followed by Illinois at No. 29. Other Big Ten teams: Ohio State (33), Indiana (37), Iowa (48), Penn State (54), Purdue (63).
Looking Ahead
The Gophers lose Senior Tammy Wang, who was the 2000-2001 team captain. Wang played at the No. 4 singles position and No. 2 doubles. However, the Gophers No. 1 and No. 6 singles players, Valerie Vladea (Kitchener, Ontario/Burlington Central) and Brandi Watts (Monument, Colorado/Lewis- Palmer) were held by freshmen, while the No. 2 and No. 3 positions were held by sophomores Thomas and Michaela Havelkova (Liberec, Czech Republic/Gymnazium F.X.Saldy).
