University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
Photo by: Craig Lassig
Women's Tennis: Season in Review
4/10/2020 11:00:00 AM | Tennis
On March 12, 2020 the University of Minnesota women's tennis team season came to a halt. Due to COVID-19 health concerns, the Big Ten and NCAA ceased all winter championships and spring competition.
Although this was not how the Gophers envisioned the end of their season, it was still one that will be memorable to look back on. Join us in reflecting on some of the most memorable moments from the 2019-20 season.
The 2019 Gopher Invitational
In their first competition of the 2019-20 season, the University of Minnesota women's tennis team had a successful weekend and went 41-6. Minnesota was undefeated in both doubles and singles on day one of the tournament and only saw one loss the last day. Teams that competed at the 2019 Gopher Invitational included Iowa, Iowa State, Drake, North Dakota, Northern Iowa, Milwaukee, and Green Bay.
Ekin Ercetin and Juliet Zhang were the only two members of the Maroon & Gold to have a clean 9-0 record on the weekend. Seven Gophers advanced to their championship flights and won on their home courts at Baseline Tennis Center.
The Gonzaga Clinch
After a tough loss against No. 4 UCLA during the ITA Kickoff Weekend, it was time for the Gophers to rally. Due to weather concerns, officials made the decision to play singles first in hopes that either Minnesota or Gonzaga would clinch the match. If singles ended in a 3-3 draw, doubles was to follow.
The Gophers started and finished the night strong, when they earned the win over the Bulldogs, 4-0. Dalila Said started off the night with a 6-0, 6-1 win. Following her, River Hart and Ekin Ercetin both defeated their opponents in straight sets. In the No. 1 singles spot, Tina Kreinis defeated Cate Broerman 7-5, 6-3 to clinch the win. A celebratory In-N-Out meal followed after the match.
The Iowa Clinch
On Feb. 7, the Gophers had an unofficial Big Ten faceoff with their southern border rival, the Iowa Hawkeyes. Minnesota had the advantage as the match was played on its home courts at Baseline Tennis Center.
The duos of Tiffany Huber/Cammy Frei and Dalila Said/Ekin Ercetin won the doubles point for the Gophers. Tying it up, Iowa would clinch the first singles point when Cammy Frei fell to Ashleigh Jacobs 6-3, 6-3.
Things suddenly turned around when River Hart and Juliet Zhang defeated their opponents in their respective spots. In a valiant effort, Dalila Said went on to defeat Elise Van Huevelen 6-3, 6-3. Said's point would clinch the match 4-1 for Minnesota to earn the match over their rivals.
The Mizzou Clinch
Looking to seek revenge from previous fallouts, Minnesota went into the Mizzou match with an eight-game win streak. Historically, the Tigers and Gophers had met 12 times since 2000, with Mizzou earning seven wins.
Juliet Zhang/River Hart won the third doubles match to put the Gophers ahead 1-0 heading into singles. Singles play came down to the wire, with points going back and forth. The final point came down to Tina Kreinis' match.
The score was 3-3, as the Kreinis match was tied 1-1 heading into the third set. It was bound to be anyone's game. Stepping up when her team needed her, Kreinis won the final set of the day 6-0 over Serena Nash. The win improved Minnesota's record to 10-2 with an undefeated eight-game home streak.
A Historical Nine-Game Win Streak
Not only was it a successful season for the Gophers, it was a historical one as well. Catrina Thompson was the third coach in Minnesota women's tennis history to earn nine wins in a row. In her third year with the Gophers, Thompson has notched a record of 40-26.
Former head coach Ellie Peden was the first to achieve this record back in 1977-78 when the team went on to win 11 straight. The second was Martin Novak, who led the team to go on to win nine in a row during the 1996-97, 1999-00 and 2002-03. During his 1999-00 run, Novak helped the Gophers go undefeated for 12 matchups.
The Wisconsin Clinch
In what was their final game of the season, the University of Minnesota women's tennis team finished the year against a No. 21 ranked Wisconsin team. Heading into match day, the Gophers posed an 11-3 record, with an undefeated home streak. Wisconsin came in with notable wins over William & Mary, VCU and No. 45 Denver.
The border battle started off with Minnesota quickly grabbing the doubles point. Singles went back and forth with the first two wins coming from Ekin Ercetin and Juliet Zhang. Cammy Frei's match would be the deciding factor, which went into a third set.
Frei came out on top 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 over Miruna Tudor to clinch the match for Minnesota. On March 10, she was selected as Big Ten Athlete of the Week for the first time in her career. The win helped launch the Gophers to a No. 41 ITA ranking, a 2-0 Big Ten record and placed them at No. 1 in the Big Ten conference.
Undefeated at Home
In their last 22 home appearances, Minnesota has only dropped one match. The loss came during the 2018-19 season against a No. 34 ranked Illinois team. It is safe to say the Golden Gophers have home court dominance like no other team.
Although the year was cut short, the Gophers were on track for a historical season. Since head coach Catrina Thompson and assistant Brian Ward have been on the coaching staff, their record has improved each year, widening the gap between the 'wins' and 'losses' category.
Minnesota ended the year with a 12-3 record. Their three losses came against No. 4 UCLA, Utah and Colorado. The Gophers had 10 matches at Baseline Tennis Center this past season, and won all 10.
Although it wasn't a perfect ending, the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and fans is our top priority. Thank you, Gophers for all of your support during the 2019-20 season, we look forward to seeing you all at Baseline Tennis Center this fall.
Although this was not how the Gophers envisioned the end of their season, it was still one that will be memorable to look back on. Join us in reflecting on some of the most memorable moments from the 2019-20 season.
The 2019 Gopher Invitational
In their first competition of the 2019-20 season, the University of Minnesota women's tennis team had a successful weekend and went 41-6. Minnesota was undefeated in both doubles and singles on day one of the tournament and only saw one loss the last day. Teams that competed at the 2019 Gopher Invitational included Iowa, Iowa State, Drake, North Dakota, Northern Iowa, Milwaukee, and Green Bay.
Ekin Ercetin and Juliet Zhang were the only two members of the Maroon & Gold to have a clean 9-0 record on the weekend. Seven Gophers advanced to their championship flights and won on their home courts at Baseline Tennis Center.
The Gonzaga Clinch
After a tough loss against No. 4 UCLA during the ITA Kickoff Weekend, it was time for the Gophers to rally. Due to weather concerns, officials made the decision to play singles first in hopes that either Minnesota or Gonzaga would clinch the match. If singles ended in a 3-3 draw, doubles was to follow.
The Gophers started and finished the night strong, when they earned the win over the Bulldogs, 4-0. Dalila Said started off the night with a 6-0, 6-1 win. Following her, River Hart and Ekin Ercetin both defeated their opponents in straight sets. In the No. 1 singles spot, Tina Kreinis defeated Cate Broerman 7-5, 6-3 to clinch the win. A celebratory In-N-Out meal followed after the match.
The Iowa Clinch
On Feb. 7, the Gophers had an unofficial Big Ten faceoff with their southern border rival, the Iowa Hawkeyes. Minnesota had the advantage as the match was played on its home courts at Baseline Tennis Center.
The duos of Tiffany Huber/Cammy Frei and Dalila Said/Ekin Ercetin won the doubles point for the Gophers. Tying it up, Iowa would clinch the first singles point when Cammy Frei fell to Ashleigh Jacobs 6-3, 6-3.
Things suddenly turned around when River Hart and Juliet Zhang defeated their opponents in their respective spots. In a valiant effort, Dalila Said went on to defeat Elise Van Huevelen 6-3, 6-3. Said's point would clinch the match 4-1 for Minnesota to earn the match over their rivals.
The Mizzou Clinch
Looking to seek revenge from previous fallouts, Minnesota went into the Mizzou match with an eight-game win streak. Historically, the Tigers and Gophers had met 12 times since 2000, with Mizzou earning seven wins.
Juliet Zhang/River Hart won the third doubles match to put the Gophers ahead 1-0 heading into singles. Singles play came down to the wire, with points going back and forth. The final point came down to Tina Kreinis' match.
The score was 3-3, as the Kreinis match was tied 1-1 heading into the third set. It was bound to be anyone's game. Stepping up when her team needed her, Kreinis won the final set of the day 6-0 over Serena Nash. The win improved Minnesota's record to 10-2 with an undefeated eight-game home streak.
A Historical Nine-Game Win Streak
Not only was it a successful season for the Gophers, it was a historical one as well. Catrina Thompson was the third coach in Minnesota women's tennis history to earn nine wins in a row. In her third year with the Gophers, Thompson has notched a record of 40-26.
Former head coach Ellie Peden was the first to achieve this record back in 1977-78 when the team went on to win 11 straight. The second was Martin Novak, who led the team to go on to win nine in a row during the 1996-97, 1999-00 and 2002-03. During his 1999-00 run, Novak helped the Gophers go undefeated for 12 matchups.
The Wisconsin Clinch
In what was their final game of the season, the University of Minnesota women's tennis team finished the year against a No. 21 ranked Wisconsin team. Heading into match day, the Gophers posed an 11-3 record, with an undefeated home streak. Wisconsin came in with notable wins over William & Mary, VCU and No. 45 Denver.
The border battle started off with Minnesota quickly grabbing the doubles point. Singles went back and forth with the first two wins coming from Ekin Ercetin and Juliet Zhang. Cammy Frei's match would be the deciding factor, which went into a third set.
Frei came out on top 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 over Miruna Tudor to clinch the match for Minnesota. On March 10, she was selected as Big Ten Athlete of the Week for the first time in her career. The win helped launch the Gophers to a No. 41 ITA ranking, a 2-0 Big Ten record and placed them at No. 1 in the Big Ten conference.
Undefeated at Home
In their last 22 home appearances, Minnesota has only dropped one match. The loss came during the 2018-19 season against a No. 34 ranked Illinois team. It is safe to say the Golden Gophers have home court dominance like no other team.
Although the year was cut short, the Gophers were on track for a historical season. Since head coach Catrina Thompson and assistant Brian Ward have been on the coaching staff, their record has improved each year, widening the gap between the 'wins' and 'losses' category.
Minnesota ended the year with a 12-3 record. Their three losses came against No. 4 UCLA, Utah and Colorado. The Gophers had 10 matches at Baseline Tennis Center this past season, and won all 10.
Although it wasn't a perfect ending, the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and fans is our top priority. Thank you, Gophers for all of your support during the 2019-20 season, we look forward to seeing you all at Baseline Tennis Center this fall.
Follow Women's Tennis
Support Women's Tennis
Support the University of Minnesota Women's Tennis program. Your support helps our student-athletes succeed athletically, academically, and socially. It takes just seconds to make a monthly or one-time donation. Thank you for your support! Give Now
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Sweep Season Opener
Wednesday, February 04
Cinematic Recap: Gopher Invite
Tuesday, September 30
Behind the Scenes: Media Day
Thursday, September 18
First Practice of 2025
Tuesday, September 09