University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Set for Two Ranked Opponents this Weekend
4/11/2018 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
With a ranked victory in hand, the University of Minnesota women's tennis team (13-8, 5-2 Big Ten) will now take their talents on the road for the final four matches of the regular season, with the first two against Illinois and Northwestern this weekend.
Illinois (17-3, 5-2 Big Ten) will host the Golden Gophers on Friday at 5:00 p.m. CT at Atkins Tennis Center. The Illini enter the dual on Friday as the No. 14 ranked team in the country according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Minnesota will then remain in the Land of Lincoln until Sunday when they take on Big Ten leader Northwestern (15-4, 7-0 Big Ten) in Evanston. Northwestern is currently the No. 12 ranked team in the country by ITA.
The last time the Gophers met the Illini was in 2015 when Illinois got the better of Minnesota, 5-2 at Baseline Tennis Center. Minnesota's last meeting with Northwestern was that same weekend in 2015; the Gophers were swept in that matchup with the Wildcats.
FOLLOW ALONG
There will be live statistics and live video available for the Illinois and Northwestern duals this weekend. You can also follow along on Twitter for live updates, video updates and graphics.
Illinois Livestream
Live Stats Illinois
Northwestern Livestream
Live Stats Northwestern
Gophers Twitter
LAST TIME OUT - OHIO STATE and PENN STATE
It was a weekend to remember for the Golden Gophers at home with a pair of victories. The first win of the weekend came against the two-time defending Big Ten champions, Ohio State. After picking up the doubles point, the Gophers needed some upsets in singles, and they got them. Senior Caroline Ryba took down the now-No. 54 ranked Anna Sanford in straight sets, and the Gophers also got wins from Barbara Mancera, and Caitlyn Merzbacher which was enough to seal the win for the Gophers.
Mancera earned the clinching point for the Gophers, giving the team their highest ranked win since 2003 when they took down No. 17 Northwestern during their first and only Big Ten Championship season.
"It's surreal to be honest. Ohio State is a great team, back-to-back Big Ten Champions for a reason," Mancera said. "Everybody showed up and competed and it always feels good to clinch."
Against Penn State, Minnesota continued their impressive play, and took care of the Nittnay Lions on Senior Day 5-2, once again led by Ryba. The team honored both Ryba and Mehvish Safdar after the dual, and giving the Gophers momentum heading into their toughest weekend of the season thus far.
RYBA NAMED BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After a 4-0 weekend, Caroline Ryba was named the Big Ten's Co-Player of the Week for the second time in her career. Ryba won a ranked match for the third straight season and the sixth time in her career. Ryba has dominated at home this season, going 11-3 while the team has gone 12-2 at home. Ryba partnered with freshman River Hart in the No. 3 spot, and helped the Gophers earn the doubles point against both No. 30 Ohio State and Penn State.
APPROACHING GREATNESS
After a 2-0 weekend in singles, junior Caitlyn Merzbacher has approached unprecedented territory with her 19-2 record. She now has tied the most singles wins in the spring season since 2005. Merzbacher also has 25 total wins between the fall and spring season, which puts her at a tie for 10th all-time. Merzbacher's eight match winning streak in singles is the longest since 2012 when Doran Muravnik won nine in a row.
CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK HOME
With the final four matches of the season on the road, the Gophers end their home season with a 12-2 record, which gives them the most wins in program history at Baseline Tennis Center since it opened in 2002. The Gophers have yet to clinch a Big Ten Tournament berth, which will be hosted at Baseline Tennis Center, but could this weekend depending on other results in the Big Ten or with a win.
ABOUT ILLINOIS
Illinois enters the weekend as the No. 14 team in the country, but brings in just one ranked singles player in Jaclyn Switkes. Switkes enters the weekend with an 11-5 record in the spring, with her primary position in the No. 2 slot, while she has gone 3-2 in the No. 1 spot. The Illini also will have one ranked doubles team in Daniela Pedraza Novak and Sasha Belaya who enter the weekend as the No. 44 ranked doubles team in the country. Illinois has been strong as of late, winning seven of their last eight outings, with the only loss against No. 24 Michigan on the road. Like the Gophers, Illinois is strong at home this season as they have a 9-1 record at Atkins Tennis Center.
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN
The No. 12 ranked Wildcats will host the Gophers on Sunday, and will have plenty of firepower to put on the courts in Evanston. Northwestern has two ranked doubles players, Erin Larner and Maddie Lipp, who are ranked 35 and 68 respectively. Larner holds an 8-0 record in her No. 1 spot this season while Lipp has posted a 12-3 record in the No. 3 spot while making one appearance in the No. 2 spot. Northwestern will also put on one of the best doubles teams in the country in Larner and Lipp. The two combine as the No. 4 ranked team, and have an 11-2 record this spring in the No. 1 doubles position, including a 3-1 record against ranked opponents. The Wildcats also have a second doubles team ranked with Lee Or and Alex Chatt at No. 25.
Players Mentioned
