University of Minnesota Athletics
Koprivica Pulls Out Win in Gophers' Loss to Illini
4/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Tijana Koprivica pulled out a three-set win at No. 2 singles for Minnesota's lone victory in a 6-1 setback to 36th-ranked Illinois on Sunday at the Baseline Tennis Center.
Koprivica held off the Illini's Rachael White 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 for her 92nd career win, moving her into fourth place on Minnesota's all-time singles wins list. She is now tied with Jennie Moe (1988-92) for career wins.
Illinois also won two singles matches in match tiebreakers in improving to 11-7 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten. Minnesota's record evened at 10-10 overall and dropped to 3-4 in the conference.
The Illini swept all three doubles matches to take an early lead and then won three singles matches in straight sets to clinch the match.
Illinois' Breanne Smutko defeated Magdalena Wiecha 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5 and Leigh Finnegan followed with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Alexa Palen at No. 4. Maria Lambropoulos sealed the win for the Illini with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Jackie Sperling at No. 3.
Koprivica's win pulled the Gophers to within 4-1 and Minnesota had the chance to make the final margin even tighter before the Illini won the two match tiebreakers. Alessandra Ferrazzi took her opening set from 106th-ranked Megan Fudge at No. 1, but Fudge battled back for a 4-6, 6-2, (10-8) win. At No. 6, Doron Muravnik won a second-set tiebreaker against Chelcie Abajian before Abajian pulled out the victory by a 6-4, 6-7, (10-4) count.
Minnesota will play a pair of road matches next weekend at Wisconsin on Friday and fifth-ranked Northwestern on Sunday.
#36 Illinois 6, #60 Minnesota 1
Singles
1. #106 Megan Fudge (ILL) def. Alessandra Ferrazzi (MINN) 4-6, 6-2, (10-8)
2. Tijana Koprivica (MINN) def. Rachael White (ILL) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
3. Maria Lambropoulos (ILL) def. Jackie Sperling (MINN) 6-2, 6-3
4. Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Alexa Palen (MINN) 6-2, 6-2
5. Breanne Smutko (ILL) def. Magdalena Wiecha (MINN) 6-1, 6-0
6. Chelcie Abajian (ILL) def. Doron Muravnik (MINN) 6-4, 6-7 (2), (10-4)
Doubles
1. Rachael White/Chelcie Abajian (ILL) def. Alessandra Ferrazzi/Alexa Palen (MINN) 8-3
2. #50 Megan Fudge/Leigh Finnegan (ILL) def. Tijana Koprivica/Jackie Sperling (MINN) 8-4
3. Marisa Lambropoulos/Breanne Smutko (ILL) def. Mariana Spilca/Doron Muravnik (MINN) 8-3
Records:
Illinois: 11-7, 5-1 Big Ten
Minnesota: 10-10, 3-4 Big Ten
Order of Finish: Singles (5,4,3,2,1,6); Doubles (2,3,1)
Players Mentioned
