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University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Rutgers
Seniors Leave Baseline Victorious
4/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
The University of Minnesota Gophers end the regular season on a winning note defeating the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights 4-3 on senior day.
The Maroon and Gold had to claw back after dropping the doubles point. They did just that taking four singles matches with wins from Caroline Ryba, Paula Rincon-Otero, Julia Courter and Camila Vargas Gomez.
"It is amazing. There is no better way to finish my career here at Minnesota," Rincon said.
Caitlyn Merzbacher and Mehvish Safdar were the first to finish their doubles match in the No. 3 spot with a 6-3 win. Ryba and Annemarie Emme fell to Rutgers 6-4 in the No. 2 spot and after a long battle, Rincon and Courter were ultimately defeated in the No. 1 spot 7-5.
Vargas Gomez quickly tied up the match dominating in a 6-3, 6-1 win at the No. 6 spot. She is 17-13 on the season and has won four of her last five matches.
The Scarlet Knights pulled ahead 2-1 with a win at the No. 5 spot but the Gophers took control after that.
Rincon won 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 2 spot and fellow senior Courter was not far behind winning 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 3 spot.
The Gophers had two more matches to try and seal the match and they both went into a third set. Ryba fell in a close first set 7-5 but rolled to a 6-2 second set win and a 6-1 third set victory securing the Gophers win.
The No. 4 spot played out with Rutgers getting the point there.
The win is big for Minnesota after taking a close loss to Maryland on Friday. They came into the weekend in a five-way tie for sixth place in the conference with the B1G Tournament next weekend. Seeding for the tournament, which is being held at East Lansing, Mich., will be announced tomorrow.
"I knew there doubles was good. I am just proud of the team. If you look at the Big Ten, anybody can beat anybody," head coach Chuck Merzbacher said. "We are leaving it out there. I think we really helped ourselves today. We can do some damage in the tournament."
Minnesota 4, Rutgers 3
Singles competition
1. Caroline Ryba (MINN) def. Gina Li (RU) 5-7, 6-2, 6-1
2. Paula Rincon-Otero (MINN) def. Chloe Lee (RU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Julia Courter (MINN) def. Ksenija Tihomiruva (RU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Mariam Zein (RU) def. Jessika Mozia (MINN) 7-6 (7-2), 1-6, 6-2
5. Lindsey Kayati (RU) def. Annemarie Emme (MINN) 6-3, 6-4
6. Camila Vargas Gomez (MINN) def. Lee levy (RU) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Gina Li/Mariam Zein (RU) def. Paula Rincon-Otero/Julia Courter (MINN) 7-5
2. Ksenija Tihomiruva/Chloe Lee (RU) def. Caroline Ryba/Annemarie Emme (MINN) 6-4
3. Caitlyn Merzbacher/Mehvish Safdar (MINN) def. Farris Cunningham/Lindsey Kayati (RU) 6-3
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,2,1) Singles (6, 5, 2, 3, 1, 4)
Players Mentioned
