University of Minnesota Athletics
Palen and Koprivica Lead Gophers in North Carolina
11/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Alexa Palen and Tijana Koprivica both posted perfect singles records as the Minnesota women's tennis team concluded the fall season over the weekend in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Both Palen and Koprivica went 4-0 in singles and 3-1 in doubles at the North Carolina Invitational. Alessandra Ferrazzi added a 3-1 record in singles as the Gophers' top three singles flights combined for an 11-1 record.
Palen delivered the most impressive win with a straight-set win over the nation's 70th-ranked player, Lenka Hojckova of North Carolina State, 7-6, 6-4 on Sunday. She also won her other three singles matches in straight sets. Palen defeated Idunn Hertzberg of Texas Christian 6-2, 6-4 and Brittany Borsanyi of Florida 7-5, 6-2 on the opening day and she beat Martha Blakely of Virginia Tech 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday.
Koprivica opened with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Sasha Krupina of Georgia Tech and then beat Maria Babavona of TCU when Babavona retired after Koprivica won the first set 6-4. She followed with a 5-7, 6-1, (10-7) win over Yasmin Hamza of Virginia Tech and then beat Julia Huschke of Maryland 6-4, 6-3.
Ferrazzi won her first match over Georgia Tech's Lynn Blau 6-4, 7-5. She also had wins over Christin Newman of Virginia Tech 7-6, 6-0 and Lisa Miller of Maryland 4-6, 6-2, (10-6).
Peta Forsyth added a win over Ashley Miller of North Carolina State 7-5, 6-4. Freshman Doron Muravnik recorded her first collegiate victory on Sunday with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Oksana Krutiyenko of Maryland.
The Gophers had six different doubles combinations win matches. Palen and Koprivica teamed for a win in their only match together, beating Maryland's Miller and Maggie MacKeever 8-6. Palen also joined Forsyth to beat Blakely and Katie Blow of Virginia Tech 9-8 and teamed with Muravnik to defeat Anik Cepeda and Nina Vulovich of William and Mary 8-2.
Koprivica combined with Jackie Sperling for an 8-6 win over Ragini Acharya and Carmen Pop of William and Mary. She also joined Muravnik to beat Krutiyenko and Alexandra Brand of Maryland 8-1. Ferrazzi and Sperling posted the other Gophers' doubles win with an 8-6 win over Brand and Jordan Hansbrough of Maryland 8-6.
Players Mentioned
