University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Claim Home Opener Over Cyclones
2/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Four players won in both singles and doubles as Minnesota captured its home opener with a 5-2 victory over Iowa State on Friday at the Baseline Tennis Center.
The Gophers dominated doubles play, winning the top two flights without dropping a game. Karina Chiarelli and Alex Seaton blanked Erin Karonis and Tessa Lang at No. 1 and Tijana Koprivica and Niltooli Wilkins posted a shutout of Marie-Christine Chartier and Maria Fernanda Macedo at No. 2. Jackie Sperling and Magdalena Wiecha finished off the sweep with an 8-3 win over Liza Wischer and Reka Kelemen at No. 3.
In singles, Wilkins, Seaton and Wiecha rolled to straight-set wins to clinch the team victory. Wilkins beat Lang 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2, while Seaton posted a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Chartier at No. 4 and Wiecha beat Alyssa Palen 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6.
Koprivica pulled out a third-set tiebreaker with a 7-4 victory over Fernanda Maceda at No. 3 for a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 win. The Gophers lost at No. 1 as Chiarelli fell to Karonis 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 and Sperling was defeated by Wischer 6-4, 7-6 (8-6).
Minnesota will play two matches on Sunday when the Gophers host Miami (Ohio) at 11 a.m. and Carleton at 4 p.m. Iowa State and Miami will play on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Baseline Tennis Center.
Doubles
1. Karina Chiarelli-Alex Seaton (MINN) def. Erin Karonis-Tessa Lang (ISU) 8-0
2. Tijana Koprivica-Niltooli Wilkins (MINN) def. Marie-Christine Chartier-Maria Fernanda Macedo (ISU) 8-0
3. Jackie Sperling-Magdalena Wiecha (MINN) def. Liza Wischer-Reka Kelemen (ISU) 8-3
Singles
1. Karonis (ISU) def. Chiarelli (MINN) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
2. Wilkins (MINN) def. Lang (ISU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Koprivica (MINN) vs. Fernanda Macedo (ISU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4)
4. Seaton (MINN) def. Chartier (ISU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Wischer (ISU) def. Sperling (MINN) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
6. Wiecha (MINN) def. Alyssa Palen (ISU) 6-2, 6-2
Players Mentioned
