University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Top 28th Ranked Kentucky in Home Opener
1/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Minnesota never trailed 28th-ranked Kentucky on Friday night and held on for the 4-3 victory at the Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
After the Gophers claimed the doubles point, Tijana Koprivica put Minnesota ahead with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Christine Johnson at No. 2 singles. Alessandra Ferrazzi made it 2-0 by taking down Christine Broderick 6-4, 6-1 at No. 1. She was followed by teammate Marianna Spilca winning her No. 6 singles match over Elle Coldiron 6-1, 6-3 that pushed the Gophers' lead to 3-0.
Spilca's victory put the match out of reach and gave Minnesota its first victory over the Wildcats since Oct. 30, 1983.
The Gophers put their first point on the board with the double pairings of Koprivica and Sperling beating Broderick and Meier, and Palen and Muravnik taking down Kentucky’s Pienaar and Coldiron. Both pairings won with a score of 8-3.
The Gophers dropped their final three singles matches, all in match tiebreakers. The Gophers’ Alexa Palen fell to Caroline Lilley by a score of 6-2, 2-6, 10-3. Freshman Doron Muravnik lost a close match with the Wildcats' Minnette Pienaar 7-6, 4-6, 10-7. The night ended with a fierce match between Jackie Sperling and Lauren Meier, but Meier ended up on top by a score of 6-4, 6-7 (4), 10-7.
Minnesota's victory over Kentucky was only the second time they have been able to take down the Wildcats in their 10 meetings.
The Gophers face off with another tough matchup in 18th-ranked North Carolina on Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Baseline Tennis Center. Kentucky plays North Carolina at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Baseline Tennis Center
#69 Minnesota 4, #28 Kentucky 3
Jan 22, 2010 Baseline Tennis Center Minneapolis, MN
Singles
1. Alessandra Ferrazzi (MINN) def. Megan Broderick (KU) 6-4, 6-1
2. #111 Tijana Koprivica (MINN) def. Christine Johnston (KU) 6-1, 6-0
3. Caroline Lilley (KU) def. Alexa Palen (MINN) 6-2, 2-6, 10-3
4. Lauren Meier (KU) def. Jackie Sperling (MINN) 6-4, 6-7 (4), 10-7
5. Minnette Pienaar (KU) def. Doron Muravnik (MINN) 7-6, 4-6, 10-7
6. Mariana Spilca (MINN) def. Elle Coldiron (KU) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles
1. Caroline Lilley/ Christine Johnston (KU) def. Alessandra Ferrazzi/Magdalena Wiecha (MINN) 8-0
2. Tijana Koprivica/Jackie Sperling (MINN) def. Megan Broderick/ Lauren Meier (KU) 8-3
3. Alexa Palen/Mariana Spilca (MINN) def. Minnette Pienaar/Elle Coldiron (KU) 8-3
Match Notes:
Minnesota 2-0; National ranking #69
Kentucky 0-1; National ranking #28
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,6,1,3,5,4)
Players Mentioned
