University of Minnesota Athletics
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Gophers Set to Host 2018 Big Ten Tournament
4/24/2018 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Big Ten Tournament Central // Big Ten Standings
Minneapolis, Minn. - It is officially the postseason for the University of Minnesota women's tennis team (14-11, 6-5 Big Ten). Baseline Tennis Center will be the destination for the 2018 Big Ten Tournament which begins on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. and concludes on Sunday April 29 on the Big Ten Network on tape delay.
The Golden Gophers finished eighth in the Big Ten after finishing the conference season 6-5 under first year head coach Catrina Thompson. Minnesota will play Maryland starting at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, with the winner taking on the No. 1 seed on Friday morning.
Northwestern (19-4, 11-0 Big Ten) claimed the 2018 Big Ten regular season title with an undefeated record in the Big Ten. They play as the No. 1 seed and will begin play on Friday along with the 2-6 seeds.
The 2018 #B1GTennis Women's Tennis Tournament Bracket. pic.twitter.com/23qYocwIT7
- Big Ten Conference (@bigten) April 23, 2018
FOLLOW ALONG
Tennis fans will be able to follow along all weekend with live statistics for every single match. For live video, only indoor courts will be shown throughout the weekend. The finals of the Big Ten Tournament will be played on the Big Ten Network, which will be on tape delay. You will be able to watch the finals at a time to be decided on Monday April 30.
Livestream (Only Indoor Courts)
Live Stats (Both Indoor and Outdoor)
Gophers Twitter
LAST TIME OUT - IOWA and NEBRASKA
The bottom of the order came alive for the Gophers when they were able to take down rival Iowa last Friday 4-3. After winning the doubles point, Minnesota picked up wins from Barbara Mancera, Caitlyn Merzbacher and Cammy Frei to claim their sixth Big Ten win of the season.
Mancera would go the distance for the Golden Gophers in the No. 4 spot, claiming a third set 6-2 over Adorabol Huckleby. It is the second straight time that Mancera clinched the win for the Maroon and Gold with the last one against No. 30 Ohio State.
In Lincoln, it was the doubles point that was again the difference in the dual. This time, the Gophers were on the wrong side, dropping the doubles point in heartbreaking fashion after splitting the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles with Nebraska. Minnesota made up ground in singles, but it was not enough to pick up a second ranked win for the team against No. 46 Nebraska. Caroline Ryba along with Merzbacher and Frei picked up wins. Merzbacher played the longest match of the season for the Golden Gophers, winning her match 7-6, 5-7, 13-11 against Katerina Matysova in the No. 5 spot.
HATS OFF TO RYBA
Senior Caroline Ryba moved her career wins total to 79 on Sunday against Nebraska, putting her in a tie for ninth most wins all-time. Ryba has won at least 20 matches in three of her four seasons at Minnesota, including her 20-12 record this season. Not only has Ryba consistently won, but she has consistently played the best players on each team with over 50 straight appearances at the No. 1 spot for the Gophers.
Senior Caroline Ryba already ranks ninth in @GopherWTennis history with 79 singles wins. She & the #Gophers kick off the #B1G Tournament vs. Maryland on Thursday at @BaselineTC. 👊🎾 pic.twitter.com/NHRWMEvtjs
- Minnesota Gophers (@GopherSports) April 23, 2018
CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK HOME
Minnesota ended their home season with a 12-2 record at home, which gives them the most wins in program history at Baseline Tennis Center since it opened in 2002. The Gophers have played all 14 matches this season indoors, and the Big Ten Tournament is set to be played outside as long as courts are playable.
WINNER WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER
Junior Cailtyn Merzbacher has not seen much besides W's on her stat line during the 2017-18 season in the singles department. The Minnesota native has moved her spring season record to 21-3 after her wins this past weekend. That is the most wins by a Gopher in the spring season in over 15 years. Including the fall season, Merzbacher is 27-5, which puts her in a tie for eighth for most wins in a single season with Valerie Vladea in 2002-03.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Gophers have never won the Big Ten Tournament title. The last win for the Gophers in the Big Ten Tournament was in 2015 when the Maroon and Gold took down Michigan State 4-1 in Evanston, Ill. The last time they hosted it was in 2016 when Ohio State won the title. Ohio State is also the defending Big Ten Tournament champions, as they have won the last two. Northwestern has won the most tournament titles with 17 followed by Indiana with 13 since the tournament started in 1982.
ABOUT MARYLAND
Earlier this season, the Golden Gophers met the Maryland Terripans at home and took care of them 6-1 on March 16. Maryland was only able to get one singles victory in the dual. Since that dual, Maryland has gone 4-6, including losing three of their last four regular season matches in the Big Ten. The Terripans are led by their No. 3 singles player Millie Stretton, who is 12-4 this spring, and 5-3 in the Big Ten. Eva Alexandrova also is a strong player at the No. 1 spot with a 10-7 record this season. In doubles, Maryland's No. 1 doubles team has been rock solid going 13-2 which includes a win against the Gophers No. 1 pair back in March. This is the third straight year Maryland has been in the Big Ten Tournament. Maryland has never won a Big Ten Tournament match since joining the conference.