University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Play Sooners, Ducks in Home Opener
2/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
The Minnesota women’s tennis team will come home this weekend for the first time this season. After trips to Huntington, W. Va., Evanston, Ill., and Milwaukee, Wis., the 73rd-ranked Gophers will play host to No. 24 Oklahoma on Friday at 6 p.m. and Oregon on Sunday at 11 a.m. Both matches will be played at the Baseline Tennis Center.
The Gophers are 2-3 against Oklahoma all-time and last played the Sooners in 2005-06 at the Minnesota Court Classic. Minnesota lost the match 4-3, but current Gopher senior Mariana Spilca recorded the first spring-season win of her collegiate career, playing at the No. 2 position. Minnesota is 2-1 all-time against Oregon after defeating them 4-3 in Eugene, Ore. last year thanks in large part to singles wins by Alessandra Ferrazzi, Doron Muravnik, and Magdalena Wiecha.
Minnesota began the season with a 4-3 road loss against Marshall on Jan. 21 and a 5-2 win over Kentucky the next day. The team’s results were similar last weekend. The Gophers lost on Saturday to Big Ten foe Northwestern, but earned a dramatic 4-3 victory at Marquette on Sunday.
Oklahoma is off to a 3-1 start this season, with wins over Wichita State, UNLV, and Arkansas. Their lone defeat came against No. 1 Stanford. Minnesota competed against the Sooners at both the ITA Central Region Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. and Wildcat Invitational in Evanston, Ill. in the fall. The teams split four singles matches and two doubles matches.
Oregon has yet to lose a match this season, starting out with victories against Portland State, Portland, Iowa State, and Montana. They will be playing away from home for the first time this weekend.
The Gophers’ two home matches this weekend mark the beginning of a seven-game home stand. Minnesota plays Brigham Young and North Carolina State next week.
