University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Penn State University
Gophers, Ryba shine on Senior Day
4/8/2018 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Minneapolis, Minn. - On senior day, Minnesota cleaned up Big Ten opponent Penn State 5-2 in their final home match of the season. Senior Caroline Ryba breezed by her opponent in No. 1 singles, winning 6-3, 6-3 in her final home match of her career.
"It was pretty tense, it was tough," Ryba said. "I'm just glad we came out with the win, that's the most important thing."
With that win, Minnesota advanced to 12-2 at home, their most wins in a season at Baseline Tennis Center, which opened in 2002.
"I'm just happy for the girls. Having the hard work that they put in, and having it pay off, is what makes me a happy coach," head coach Catrina Thompson said. "I'm proud of them today, proud of the way we rebounded after coming off of a couple losses before the bye week with a win over a Top-30 team (in Ohio State), and a win over a solid Penn State team."
Minnesota mopped up Penn State in the doubles portion of the competition, with Tina Kreinis and Annemarie Emme winning No. 2 doubles 6-4, and Ryba and River Hart winning No. 3 doubles 6-3. Senior Mehvish Safdar and Caitlyn Merzbacher were trailing 4-5 in No. 1 doubles upon clinching the doubles point.
With the doubles point in hand, Kreinis swept her opponent 6-0, 6-1 in No. 2 singles to give Minnesota a 2-0 lead, before Ryba won her match.
Caitlyn Merzbacher clinched the win for Minnesota in No. 5 singles with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) win. The win gives her a 19-2 record on the year, which is tied for the most spring wins in program history since pre-2005.
Up Next
Minnesota will go on the road next weekend for matches against Illinois on Friday at 5 pm and Northwestern on Sunday at 11 am.
Minnesota 5, Penn State 2
Doubles competition
- Caitlyn Merzbacher/Mehvish Safdar (MINN) vs. Shannon Hanley/Samantha Smith (PSU) 4-5, unfinished
- Tina Kreinis/Annemarie Emme (MINN) def. Frederikke Svarre/Olivia Rohrbacher (PSU) 6-4
- Caroline Ryba/River Hart (MINN) def. Bennett Dunn/Gabby O'Gorman (PSU) 6-3
Singles competition
- Caroline Ryba (MINN) def. Gabby O'Gorman (PSU) 6-3, 6-3
- Tina Kreinis (MINN) def. Frederikke Svarre (PSU) 6-0, 6-1
- Shannon Hanley (PSU) def. Annemarie Emme (MINN) 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 10-6
- Samantha Smith (PSU) def. Barbara Mancera (MINN) 6-7 (0-5), 6-1, 7-5
- Caitlyn Merzbacher (MINN) def. Bennett Dunn (PSU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
- Cammy Frei (MINN) def. Hanna Wikberg (PSU) 7-5, 5-7, 10-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (2,1,5,3,6,4)
