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University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Louisville
Gophers Top Louisville in West Virginia
2/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
HUNTINGTON, W.V. - The No. 71 Minnesota women's tennis team came out strong in its first match in 13 days Saturday, defeating No. 66-ranked Louisville, 5-1, in a neutral site contest at the Huntington Tennis Club in Huntington, W. Va. The Gophers improved to 4-2 on the season with their first win over a ranked opponent on the season.
"Louisville has such a tough fighting team and the match was close across the board," said Minnesota head coach Chuck Merzbacher. "Our girls just stepped up on big points and games."
Minnesota mixed up its doubles tandems, pairing Tereza Brichacova Paula Rincon-Otero at No. 1 and Jessika Mozia and Julia Courter at No. 2. Both duos worked well, as Brichacova and Rincon-Otero won 8-2 and Mozia and Courter posted an 8-3 victory.
The top two positions were kind to the Gophers in singles, as well. Caroline Ryba improved to 4-0 on the spring and earned her 10th collegiate win with a 6-0, 6-2 triumph at No. 2. Brichacova then erased a one set deficit to take a three-set decision when Elle Stokes retired.
Louisville got a point back and momentarily eluded a loss with a win at No. 4, but Aria Lambert shut the door with a 6-4, 7-6 (2) win at No. 5. Mozia capped the scoring and made it 5-1 by dispatching Ariana Rodriguez, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, at the third spot.
Rincon-Otero's match went unfinished after the junior won her first set, 6-4.
The Gophers will conclude their weekend against Marshall Sunday at 10 a.m. CT. The team will then return home for the first time since Jan. 18 next Friday night when it hosts Drake.
No. 71 Minnesota 5, No. 66 Louisville 1
Huntington Tennis Club (Huntington, W. Va.)
Singles competition
1. Tereza Brichacova (MINN) def. Elle Stokes (LOU) 5-7, 6-1, 1-0, retired
2. Caroline Ryba (MINN) def. Jessie Lynn Paul (LOU) 6-0, 6-2
3. Jessika Mozia (MINN) def. Ariana Rodriguez (LOU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
4. Manuela Velasquez (LOU) def. Maja Vujic (MINN) 6-4, 6-2
5. Aria Lambert (MINN) def. Chloe Willetts (LOU) 6-4, 7-6 (2)
6. Paula Rincon Otero (MINN) vs. Olivia Boesing (LOU) 6-4, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Tereza Brichacova/Paula Rincon Otero (MINN) def. Elle Stokes/Ariana Rodriguez (LOU) 8-2
2. Jessika Mozia/Julia Courter (MINN) def. Olivia Boesing/Chloe Willetts (LOU) 8-3
3. Mehvish Safdar/Maja Vujic (MINN) vs. Manuela Velasquez/Jessie Lynn Paul (LOU) 4-5, unfinished
Match Notes
Louisville 9-3 (0-0 AAC)
Minnesota 4-2 (0-0 Big Ten)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,1,4,5,3)
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Players Mentioned
