University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Tumble 5-2 at 19th-Ranked Michigan
3/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Tijana Koprivica was Minnesota’s lone singles winner and also claimed a doubles victory as the Gophers dropped a 5-2 decision at 19th-ranked Michigan on Saturday in Ann Arbor.
Koprivica took her No. 4 singles match over Tania Mahtani 6-4, 6-1 and also joined Niltooli Wilkins for an 8-5 victory at No. 2 doubles, but it was among the 59th-ranked Gophers few highlights as they dropped to 7-6 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten. Michigan is now 7-4 overall and 2-0 in the league.
The Gophers got off to a good start in the match by taking the doubles point as Karina Chiarelli and Alessandra Ferrazzi were victorious at No. 1 with an 8-5 win over Mahtani and Chisako Sugiyama, who are the nation’s 31st-ranked doubles tandem. Alex Seaton and Magdalena Wiecha dropped their No. 3 doubles match 8-5.
Chiarelli and Ferrazzi both lost singles matches to nationally-ranked foes as Chiarelli fell to 111th-ranked Rika Tatsuno at No. 1 by a 6-0, 6-3 count and Ferrazzi dropped a three-set match to 58th-ranked Sugiyama 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Wilkins lost at No. 4 singles to Whitney Taney 6-1, 6-4, while Wiecha fell to Denise Muresan 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5 and Jackie Sperling lost to Michelle Sulahian 6-3, 7-6 at No. 6.
The Gophers conclude their road swing at Michigan State on Sunday.
#19 Michigan 5, Minnesota 2
Singles
No. 1 -- #111 Rika Tatsuno (U-M) d. Karina Chiarelli, 6-0, 6-3
No. 2 -- #58 Chisako Sugiyama (U-M) d. Alessandra Ferrazzi, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
No. 3 -- Tijana Koprivica (Minnesota) d. Tania Mahtani, 6-4, 6-1
No. 4 -- Whitney Taney (U-M) d. Niltooli Wilkins, 6-1, 6-4
No. 5 -- Denise Muresan (U-M) d. Magadalena Wiecha, 6-2, 6-3
No. 6 -- Michelle Sulahian (U-M) d. Jackie Sperling, 6-3, 7-6(4)
Doubles
No. 1 -- Chiarelli/Ferrazzi (Minnesota) d. #31 Mahtani/Sugiyama, 8-5
No. 2 -- Koprivica/Wilkins (Minnesota) d. Taney/Tatsuno, 8-5
No. 3 -- Lindsey Howard/Muresan (U-M) d. Alex Seaton/Wiecha, 8-5
Order of Completion: Doubles 1-3-2, Singles 1-5-4-3-6-2
Players Mentioned
