University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Wisconsin
Gophers Win Sixth Straight Border Battle
2/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Feb. 26, 2016
The No. 58 University of Minnesota Gophers topped the Wisconsin Badgers 5-2 this evening taking their sixth straight Border Battle win and moving to 7-3 overall on the season.
"These kids came into a very tough environment, stuck together and found a way to get the win," head coach Chuck Merzbacher said. "I could not be prouder of this group. It is fun to be in this type of a rivalry. We cherish it."
The Gophers got things started by taking their eighth doubles point of the season. After Wisconsin won at the No. 3 spot, Paula Rincon-Otero and Annemarie Emme moved to 7-2 on the season all at the No. 1 spot with a 6-4 victory.
The point came down to the No. 2 spot and that match was a battle going into a tiebreak. Julia Courter and Caroline Ryba stayed strong and took the match 7-6 (8) giving Minnesota the doubles point. The duo is 5-1 together this season.
The Badgers tied it up with a win at No. 3 but Emme quickly gave the Gophers the lead back. She won at the No. 5 spot 6-3, 6-0 snapping a losing streak and moving her record to 11-11 on the year.
The Maroon and Gold would never relinquish the lead the rest of the evening. Jessika Mozia dropped her first set 6-2 but kept her confidence going into the next two sets. She won the second 6-4 and cruised to a 6-2 win in the third set.
The match sealing victory came at the No. 1 spot. Ryba moved to 9-6 on the season taking a 7-6 (4), 7-5 win over No. 44 Lauren Chypyha.
Courter took a victory and the Gophers fifth point at the No. 2 spot. She also dropped the first set 6-2 before winning the second 6-2 and the third 6-4 for the win. She now has 10 wins on the season.
Wisconsin took the sixth spot for their second point of the day.
The Gophers wrap up their weekend with a neutral site match against No. 66 Utah at 1 p.m.
#58 Minnesota 5, Wisconsin 2
Singles competition
1. Caroline Ryba (MINN) def. #44 Lauren Chypyha (WIS) 7-6 (7-4), 7-5
2. Julia Courter (MINN) def. Ekaterina Stepanova (WIS) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
3. Kendall Kirsch (WIS) def. Paula Rincon-Otero (MINN) 6-4, 6-3
4. Jessika Mozia (MINN) def. Kelsey Grambeau (WIS) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
5. Annemarie Emme (MINN) def. Maria Avgerinos (WIS) 6-3, 6-0
6. Lauren Burich (WIS) def. Camila Vargas Gomez (MINN) 2-6, 7-6 (13-11), 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Paula Rincon-Otero/AnneMarie Emme (MINN) def. Lauren Chypyha/Kendall Kirsch (WIS) 6-4
2. Caroline Ryba/Julia Courter (MINN) def. Sydney Rider/Ekaterina Stepanova (WIS) 7-6 (10-8)
3. Kelsey Grambeau/Lauren Burich (WIS) def. Mehvish Safdar/Caitlyn Merzbacher (MINN) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,5,4,1,2,6)
Players Mentioned
