University of Minnesota Athletics
Tight Matches Define Women's Tennis in 2009
5/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Minnesota battled through injuries and tight matches during the second half of the season to finish with a 12-12 record for the 2009 season. The Gophers missed several of their key players down the stretch and lost a trio of close conference matches to finish 3-7 in the Big Ten. Minnesota was ranked every week of the 2009 season and finished the season ranked 69th by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
Doubles play was a highlight for the Gophers, who won the doubles point in 16 of their 24 dual matches and seven of their 10 Big Ten regular season contests. The Gophers finished with a combined 66-45 doubles record, including a 19-10 mark in Big Ten play.
Tijana Koprivica had another successful year for Minnesota, leading the team in victories for the third straight year and posting a 22-14 singles record. Koprivica, who won the team’s Most Valuable Player award, was 23-12 in doubles matches. Alessandra Ferrazzi and Karina Chiarelli combined for an 8-1 doubles record and 21-4 career mark while finishing the season ranked 59th in the final ITA national rankings. Chiarelli played No. 1 singles for the Gophers all season and won 20 total doubles matches for the second consecutive year.
Minnesota won its opening match at the Big Ten tournament, dispatching Penn State 4-0 before losing to the nation’s top-ranked team, Northwestern, 4-0 in the quarterfinals. The Gophers also opened the spring season by participating in the ITA National Indoor Championships in Los Angeles.
The Gophers had a successful year off the court as well, winning the school’s academic award for small women’s sports teams. All 13 of Minnesota’s players earned scholar athlete honors by carrying at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average through the fall semester.
