University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, April 14
Minneapolis, MN
11:00 AM
University of Minnesota
1
vs
6
University of Illinois
Players Mentioned
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
Minnesota Suffers First Home Loss of the Season Against #34 Illinois
4/14/2019 4:01:00 PM | Tennis
The University of Minnesota women's tennis team suffered their first home loss of the season to #34 Illinois in a 6-1 heartbreaker. The Gophers' move to 11-10, 4-5 on the year with an 8-1 record at home.
Doubles
It took all three matches to decide the doubles point, but Illinois walked away with the 1-0 lead heading into singles. Illinois downed Minnesota's top duo of Tina Kreinis and Caitlyn Merzbacher in a shutout performance before the Gophers evened it back out in the No. 3 position. Illinois clinched the doubles point in a 7-5 decider against Minnesota's No. 2 tandem.
Singles
Looking to bounce off Friday's singles rally, Minnesota battled through the tough Illinois lineup but failed to produce the comeback win. The Gophers grabbed their lone point from Tiffany Huber's dominating straight-set victory over Mia Rabinowitz out of the No. 2 position. Even with her recent success against nationally-ranked opponents, Kreinis was edged out in a three-set dual against Illinois' #49 Asuka Kawai. In addition to the top spot, the Gophers battled in two additional three-set matches from the No. 5 and No. 6 ranks but failed to grab a point. Illinois went on to close out the match in a thrilling back-and-forth super tiebreaker against Merzbacher to give them the 6-1 victory in Minneapolis.
Up Next
The Gophers will close out the regular season on April 20 and April 21 against Nebraska, Iowa, and Green Bay. Baseline will host the four graduating seniors on their senior day double header against the Hawkeyes and Phoenix.
Minnesota 1, #34 Illinois 6
Doubles
D. Pedraza Novak/Emilee Duong (ILL) def. Caitlyn Merzbacher/Tina Kreinis (MINN) 6-0
Jaclyn Switkes/Sasha Belaya (ILL) def. Cammy Frei/Tiffany Huber (MINN) 7-5
River Hart/Camila Vargas (MINN) def. Asuka Kawai/Mia Rabinowitz (ILL) 6-4
Singles
#49 Asuka Kawai (ILL) def. Tina Kreinis (MINN) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
Tiffany Huber (MINN) def. Mia Rabinowitz (ILL) 6-2, 6-4
Sasha Belaya (ILL) def. Cammy Frei (MINN) 6-4, 6-4
Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) def. Caitlyn Merzbacher (MINN) 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 10-8
Emilee Duong (ILL) def. River Hart (MINN) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
D. Pedraza Novak (ILL) def. Camila Vargas (MINN) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
Match Notes:
Minnesota 11-10, 4-5 B1G
Illinois 11-10, 6-3 B1G; National ranking #34
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,3,6,5,1,4)
Doubles
It took all three matches to decide the doubles point, but Illinois walked away with the 1-0 lead heading into singles. Illinois downed Minnesota's top duo of Tina Kreinis and Caitlyn Merzbacher in a shutout performance before the Gophers evened it back out in the No. 3 position. Illinois clinched the doubles point in a 7-5 decider against Minnesota's No. 2 tandem.
Singles
Looking to bounce off Friday's singles rally, Minnesota battled through the tough Illinois lineup but failed to produce the comeback win. The Gophers grabbed their lone point from Tiffany Huber's dominating straight-set victory over Mia Rabinowitz out of the No. 2 position. Even with her recent success against nationally-ranked opponents, Kreinis was edged out in a three-set dual against Illinois' #49 Asuka Kawai. In addition to the top spot, the Gophers battled in two additional three-set matches from the No. 5 and No. 6 ranks but failed to grab a point. Illinois went on to close out the match in a thrilling back-and-forth super tiebreaker against Merzbacher to give them the 6-1 victory in Minneapolis.
Up Next
The Gophers will close out the regular season on April 20 and April 21 against Nebraska, Iowa, and Green Bay. Baseline will host the four graduating seniors on their senior day double header against the Hawkeyes and Phoenix.
Minnesota 1, #34 Illinois 6
Doubles
D. Pedraza Novak/Emilee Duong (ILL) def. Caitlyn Merzbacher/Tina Kreinis (MINN) 6-0
Jaclyn Switkes/Sasha Belaya (ILL) def. Cammy Frei/Tiffany Huber (MINN) 7-5
River Hart/Camila Vargas (MINN) def. Asuka Kawai/Mia Rabinowitz (ILL) 6-4
Singles
#49 Asuka Kawai (ILL) def. Tina Kreinis (MINN) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
Tiffany Huber (MINN) def. Mia Rabinowitz (ILL) 6-2, 6-4
Sasha Belaya (ILL) def. Cammy Frei (MINN) 6-4, 6-4
Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) def. Caitlyn Merzbacher (MINN) 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 10-8
Emilee Duong (ILL) def. River Hart (MINN) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
D. Pedraza Novak (ILL) def. Camila Vargas (MINN) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
Match Notes:
Minnesota 11-10, 4-5 B1G
Illinois 11-10, 6-3 B1G; National ranking #34
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,3,6,5,1,4)
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