University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
University of Utah
Gophers Edged by Utes, 4-3
2/4/2018 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Minneapolis, Minn. - The University of Minnesota fell to Utah in a tight 4-3 battle Sunday, placing second in the Courtside Classic. Minnesota suffered their first loss of the season, making their record 4-1.
"Obviously a heartbreaker," head coach Catrina Thompson said. "I was proud of the way we fought and competed, but Utah is very well-coached. You know they're going to fight and battle for every point, and that's just what they did."
Doubles
Minnesota dropped the doubles point for the first time this season, losing in the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles spots. Caitlyn Merzbacher and Mehvish Safdar fell in the first spot 6-1, while Caroline Ryba and Cammy Frei fell in the No. 3 spot, losing 6-4. Tina Kreinis and Annemarie Emme were ahead 5-4 at the conclusion of doubles, but their match went unfinished.
Singles
The singles competition featured four three-set matches, a first for the Gophers this season. Kreinis lost in the No. 2 spot, a 6-1, 6-1 loss, followed by a 6-1, 6-4 win from Annemarie Emme in the third singles spot.
Caitlyn Merzbacher won the No. 5 singles spot 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, followed by a win from No. 1 singles Caroline Ryba, a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 win.
Leading 3-2, Minnesota dropped the final two matches of the afternoon, a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 loss from Barbara Mancera and a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 loss from Camila Vargas Gomez.
Up Next
Minnesota will face Marquette and South Dakota at Baseline Tennis Center Friday, followed by another home match against Drake on Sunday.
Utah 4, Minnesota 3
Singles competition
1. Caroline Ryba (MINN) def. Alexia Petrovic (UTAHW) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
2. Brianna Turley (UTAHW) def. Tina Kreinis (MINN) 6-1, 6-1
3. Annemarie Emme (MINN) def. Margo Pletcher (UTAHW) 6-1, 6-4
4. Jena Cheng (UTAHW) def. Barbara Mancera (MINN) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4
5. Caitlyn Merzbacher (MINN) def. Victoria Robertson (UTAHW) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
6. Taylor Calton (UTAHW) def. Camila Vargas Gomez (MINN) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Margo Pletcher/Brianna Turley (UTAHW) def. Caitlyn Merzbacher/Mehvish Safdar (MINN) 6-1
2. Tina Kreinis/Annemarie Emme (MINN) vs. Alexia Petrovic/Jena Cheng (UTAHW) 5-4, unfinished
3. Taylor Calton/Whitney Turley (UTAHW) def. Caroline Ryba/Cammy Frei (MINN) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (2,3,5,1,4,6)
Players Mentioned
