University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Start Strong in Tight Loss to Hoosiers
4/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Minnesota got off to a strong start with a win in doubles, but Indiana came back to claim a 4-3 victory over the Gophers on Friday at the Baseline Tennis Center.
The Gophers' Alessandra Ferrazzi and Jackie Sperling each won in singles and doubles as 60th-ranked Minnesota dropped to 10-9 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten. Indiana is ranked 34th in the country and is now 13-5 overall and 3-2 in the league. The Gophers have played eight one-point matches among their 19 outings this season.
Ferrazzi and Alexa Palen rolled to an 8-4 win at No. 1 doubles, while Sperling and Tijana Koprivica prevailed 8-6 at their No. 2 doubles match to give Minnesota an early lead.
Indiana bounced back at No. 2 singles when Leslie Hureau downed Koprivica 6-1, 6-1 before Ferrazzi gave the Gophers the lead back with her 6-3, 7-5 victory over Evgeniya Vertesheva at No. 1 singles.
The Hoosiers took the next three singles decisions to clinch the team victory with Katya Zapadova knotting the match with her 6-4, 6-3 win over Palen at No. 3. Charlotte Martin followed with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Magdalena Wiecha at No. 6 and Lindsey Stuckey won the last six games of her No. 5 singles match with Doron Muravnik for a 7-5, 6-4 win.
Sperling finished off the match with a victory for Minnesota, edging Myriam Sopel 7-5 in a second-set tiebreaker for a 7-5, 7-6 win at No. 4.
The Gophers host another ranked opponent on Sunday when Illinois visits for an 11 a.m. start.
#34 Indiana 4, #60 Minnesota 3
Singles
1. Alessandra Ferrazzi (MINN) def. Evgeniya Vertesheva (IU) 6-3, 7-5
2. Leslie Hureau (IU) def. Tijana Koprivica (MINN) 6-1, 6-1
3. Katya Zapadalova (IU) def. Alexa Palen (MINN) 6-4, 6-3
4. Jackie Sperling (MINN) def. Myriam Sopel (IU) 7-5, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Lindsey Stuckey (IU) def. Doron Muravnik (MINN) 7-5, 6-4
6. Charlotte Martin (IU) def. Magdalena Wiecha (MINN) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles
1. Alessandra Ferrazzi/Alexa Palen (MINN) def. Leslie Hureau/Lindsey Stuckey (IU) 8-4
2. Tijana Koprivica/Jackie Sperling (MINN) def. Myriam Sopel/Evgeniya Vertesheva (IU) 8-6
3. Charlotte Martin/Katya Zapadalova (IU) def. Doron Muravnik/Mariana Spilca (MINN) 8-4
Match Notes:
Indiana 13-5, 3-2 Big Ten; National ranking #34
Minnesota 10-9, 3-3 Big Ten; National ranking #60
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,1,3,6,5,4)
Players Mentioned
