University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Downed by 25th-Ranked Buckeyes
4/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Alessandra Ferrazzi and Alexa Palen combined for a doubles victory and Minnesota forced three singles matches to three sets, but lost to 25th-ranked Ohio State 7-0 on Friday in Columbus, Ohio.
The loss dropped the 56th-ranked Gophers to 9-8 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten. Ohio State is now 15-4 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
Ferrazzi and Palen got Minnesota off to a strong start with their 8-1 victory at No. 1 doubles, but the Buckeyes responded with wins at the other two flights. Fidan Manashirova and Gabby Steele clinched the point by holding off Minnesota's Doron Muravnik and Mariana Spilca 9-7.
Ohio State won a pair of singles matches by 6-3, 6-4 scores to take a 3-0 lead as Christina Keesey beat Magdalena Wiecha at No. 6 and Steele downed Muravnik at No. 4. Palen held off her No. 3 singles opponent, Kelsey Haviland, long enough to force the remaining three singles matches into third sets before succumbing to a 7-6, 6-2 setback.
The Buckeyes rallied from first set losses in two of the three three-set wins. Ferrazzi won her opening set over 66th-ranked Kirsten Flower at No. 1 before losing 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, while Tijana Koprivica held the lead over Paloma Escobedo at No. 2 in a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat. Manashirova held off Jackie Sperling 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 at No. 5 to finish off Ohio State's victory.
Minnesota will travel to State College, Penn. to face Penn State on Sunday.
#25 Ohio State 7, #56 Minnesota 0
Singles
1. #66 Kirsten Flower (OSU) def. Alessandra Ferrazzi (MINN) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
2. Paloma Escobedo (OSU) def. Tijana Koprivica (MINN) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Kelsey Haviland (OSU) def. Alexa Palen (MINN) 7-6, 6-2
4. Gabby Steele (OSU) def. Doron Muravnik (MINN) 6-3, 6-4
5. Fidan Manashirova (OSU) def. Jackie Sperling (MINN) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
6. Christina Keesey (OSU) def. Magdalena Wiecha (MINN) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles
1. Alessandra Ferrazzi/Alexa Palen (MINN) def. Kelsey Haviland/Cami Hubbs (OSU) 8-1
2. Paloma Escobedo/Christina Keesey (OSU) def. Tijana Koprivica/Jackie Sperling (MINN) 8-4
3. Fidan Manashirova/Gabby Steele (OSU) def. Doron Muravnik/Mariana Spilca (MINN) 9-7
Match Notes:
Minnesota 9-8, 2-2 Big Ten; National ranking #56
Ohio State 15-4, 2-1 Big Ten; National ranking #25
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,4,5,3,2,1)
Players Mentioned
