University of Minnesota Athletics
WTN: Golden Gophers Open Season This Weekend at Bronco Invitational
9/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
The Golden Gophers, led by fifth-year head coach Tyler Thomson, return all nine players from the 2004-05 squad and add two top newcomers to the lineup this season. The Maroon and Gold welcome a more experienced and talented lineup in 2005-06 with the return of senior All-Big Ten player Nischela Reddy, juniors Lindsay Risebrough and Ida Malmberg, and sophomores Jane Anderson, Marina Bugaenco and Daniele Mousseau. With the addition of two talented freshmen in Karina Chiarelli and Mariana Spilca, Minnesota expects a return to the upper echelon of the Big Ten Conference.
Last season, Minnesota opened the spring campaign with encouraging results before suffering an extended losing streak during the Big Ten season. Unranked to enter the year, the Golden Gophers rose to No. 57 in the nation after posting a 5-4 record through early March. UM claimed third place at its annual Minnesota Court Classic in late January, falling 4-3 to Missouri before rebounding to down Boston College, 5-2. Three weeks later, the Maroon and Gold posted its best weekend of the season, defeating Denver and Cincinnati at home.
From March 13-April 15, Minnesota went on a eight-match losing streak. UM snapped out of the slump with its lone Big Ten win of the season, a 4-3 victory over Penn State on April 17. The Golden Gophers finished the season with a 4-0 loss in the first round of the 2005 Big Ten Championship. The Maroon and Gold finished its season with a 6-15 overall record and a 1-9 mark in the Big Ten.
Players Mentioned
