University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Rally Past Iowa State in Season Opener
1/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Minnesota won the final three singles matches to rally past Iowa State for a season-opening women's tennis victory on Sunday in Rochester, Minn.
Gophers' freshman Doron Muravnik posted her second collegiate victory, rallying from a set down to beat Jasmine Lee 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 at No. 6 singles to cap Minnesota's victory, which was its 29th consecutive over Iowa State. Muravnik went 1-3 during the fall season for the Gophers.
Trailing 3-1, Alessandra Ferrazzi posted a 7-6, 6-3 win over Maria Fernanda Macedo at No. 2 singles and Alexa Palen followed with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Tessa Lang at No. 3 to tie the match before Muravnik clinched the team's win.
"We were fortunate to have won," Minnesota coach Tyler Thomson said. "Iowa State is very improved. We need to play with better discipline, but Iowa State played a great match."
The Gophers took the early lead by winning the first two doubles matches. Ferrazzi teamed with Magdalena Wiecha for an 8-3 win over Macedo and Lang at No. 2, while Palen and Mariana Spilca delivered an 8-3 win over Mary-Christine Chartier and Lee at No. 3. Palen was playing in her hometown after winning Class A state titles the past two years at Rochester Lourdes High School. Her sister, Alyssa, plays for Iowa State, but was not in the lineup on Sunday.
Iowa State won the first three completed singles matches with Jenna Langhorst defeating Wiecha 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5, Chartier beating Sperling 6-3, 6-4 at No. 4 and Karonis downing Tijana Koprivica 7-5, 6-2 at No. 1.
The Gophers host a pair of highly-ranked foes next weekend when they take on 28th-ranked Kentucky on Friday at 6 p.m. and 18th-ranked North Carolina on Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Baseline Tennis Center.
#69 Minnesota 4, Iowa State 3
Jan 17, 2010 at Rochester, Minn.
Singles
1. Erin Karonis (ISU) def. #111 Tijana Koprivica (MINN) 7-5, 6-2
2. Alessandra Ferrazzi (MINN) def. Maria FernandaMacedo (ISU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
3. Alexa Palen (MINN) def. Tessa Lang (ISU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Marie-Chr. Chartier (ISU) def. Jackie Sperling (MINN) 6-3, 6-4
5. Jenna Langhorst (ISU) def. Magdalena Wiecha (MINN) 6-2, 6-3
6. Doron Muravnik (MINN) def. Jasmine Lee (ISU) 4-6, 7-5, 7-5
Doubles
1. Erin Karonis/Jenna Langhorst (ISU) def. Tijana Koprivica/Jackie Sperling (MINN) 8-6
2. Alessandra Ferrazzi/Magdalena Wiecha (MINN) def. Maria FernandaMacedo/Tessa Lang (ISU) 8-3
3. Alexa Palen/Mariana Spilca (MINN) def. Marie-Chr. Chartier/Jasmine Lee (ISU) 8-3
Match Notes:
Iowa State 0-1
Minnesota 1-0; National ranking #69
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (5,4,1,2,3,6)
Players Mentioned
