University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Purdue
Gophers Edge No. 34 Purdue on Senior Day
4/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Complete Results | Photo Gallery
MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota women's tennis team overcame an early deficit to defeat 34th-ranked Purdue, 4-3, at the Baseline Tennis Center Friday afternoon. The Gophers celebrated Senior Day, honoring fourth-year student-athletes Tereza Brichacova and Aria Lambert prior to their final home match. Both players went out on a winning note in singles play.
With the win, Minnesota improved to 16-8 on the season and matched its highest conference win total since 2003 at six. The Gophers now have three wins over ranked opponents on the year. They won 11 of their 14 home matches on the season.
"I am so proud of this win for our seniors," Minnesota head coach Chuck Merzbacher said. "This team has fought hard all year long. There is simply no quit in this team."
The Maroon and Gold trailed, 1-0, after dropping the doubles point, but responded with strong play in singles.
At No. 5, Julia Courter evened the score with a victory at No. 5 singles. Lambert made it 2-1, Minnesota, with a straight-set win at No. 4, but the Boilermakers responded with a win at No. 3.
Lambert increased her career win total to 79, the 10th-most in program history.
Brichacova closed out her home career by rallying for win at No. 1, but Purdue continued the see-saw affair with a triumph at the second spot, making it 3-3. To clinch the team win, Paula Rincon-Otero outlasted Deborah Suarez in three sets at No. 6.
Before heading to the Big Ten Tournament in Evanston, Ill. next week, the Gophers wrap up regular season play Sunday morning at No. 48 Indiana.
Minnesota 4, No. 34 Purdue 3
Minneapolis, Minn. (Baseline Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Tereza Brichacova (MINN) def. Daniela Vidal (PUR) 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
2. Tess Bernard-Feigenbaum (PUR) def. Caroline Ryba (MINN) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
3. Lynda Xepoleas (PUR) def. Jessika Mozia (MINN) 7-5, 7-5
4. Aria Lambert (MINN) def. Nicole Robinson (PUR) 7-6 (4), 6-1
5. Julia Courter (MINN) def. Krisztina Kapitany (PUR) 6-2, 6-1
6. Paula Rincon-Otero (MINN) def. Deborah Suarez (PUR) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Tereza Brichacova/Paula Rincon-Otero (MINN) vs. No. 88 Daniela Vidal/Tess Bernard-Feigenbaum (PUR) 7-7, unfinished
2. Natalia Davila/Lynda Xepoleas (PUR) def. Jessika Mozia/Julia Courter (MINN) 8-5
3. Nicole Robinson/Krisztina Kapitany (PUR) def. Caroline Ryba/Mehvish Safdar (MINN) 8-4
Match Notes
Purdue 12-7 (5-5 Big Ten)
Minnesota 16-8 (6-4 Big Ten)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (5,4,3,1,2,6)
Players Mentioned
