University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Iowa
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Gophers Fall to Rival Iowa 5-2
2/21/2021 5:56:00 PM | Tennis
Minneapolis, MN. - The Gophers finished up their first home stand of the year. The Sunday matchup saw Minnesota fall to Iowa by a final of 5-2.Â
Minnesota (0-3) suffers back to back home losses for the first time since 2015. Iowa (2-3) earned their second conference victory and first victory at Baseline Tennis Center since 2017.Â
The Gophers dropped the doubles point in close fashion as the Hawkeyes won the deciding third match 7-5. On Court 4, senior duo Juliet Zhang and River Hart were unstoppable, winning their doubles match 6-0. After the pairing of Ekin Ercetin and Rachel Hanford was defeated for the first time in B1G doubles play, the match came down to Court 2. Dalila Said and Lucia de Santa battled back from a 5-3 deficit ultimately to drop the match 7-5.Â
In singles play, sophomore Dalila Said drew the tough matchup of No. 97 ranked and reigning B1G player of the week Alexa Noel. Noel continued her stretch of great play with a 6-0, 6-1 victory to put the Hawkeyes up 2-0. Noel has yet to be beaten in singles in her collegiate career.Â
Iowa widened their lead with another straight set victory on Court 5. Senior Elise van Heuvelen handed Rachel Hanford her first career B1G singles defeat 6-3, 6-3.Â
On Court 4, Ekin Ercetin got the Maroon & Gold on the board by defeating Samantha Mannix 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Ercetin went 2-0 in singles play over the weekend.Â
On Court 1, River Hart battled back after dropping the first set, but ultimately fell to junior Samantha Gillas 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 to secure the victory for the Hawkeyes.Â
On Court 3, Lucia de Santa Ana earned her first career B1G singles victory after defeating junior Michelle Bacalla in three sets: 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. Juliet Zhang was defeated in three sets to close out play.Â
"We had another tough battle against a solid Iowa team and we just need to find a couple more points to put up on the scoreboard to flip the score in our favor," said head coach Catrina Thompson. "We will get back to work this week and make adjustments to be ready for our road trip to Chicago next weekend."
Minnesota is back in action Friday Feb. 26 on the road against No. 7 Northwestern. The match is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. start.Â
Doubles
Alexa Noel/Samantha Mannix (IOWA) def. Ekin Ercetin/Rachel Hanford (MIN) 6-2
Elise van Heuvelen/Samantha Gillas (IOWA) def. Dalila Said/Lucia de Santa Ana (MIN) 7-5
Juliet Zhang/River Hart (MIN) def. Danielle Bauers/Danielle Burich (IOWA) 6-0
Order of finish: 3,1,2Â
Singles
#97 Alexa Noel (IOWA) def. Dalila Said (MIN) 6-0, 6-1
Elise van Heuvelen (IOWA) def. Rachel Hanford (MIN) 6-3, 6-3
Ekin Ercetin (MIN) def. Samantha Mannix (IOWA) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
Lucia de Santa Ana (MIN) def. Michelle Bacalla (IOWA) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
Vipasha Mehra (IOWA) def. Juliet Zhang (MIN) 7-5, 3-6,Â
Samantha Gillas (IOWA) def. River Hart (MIN) 7-5 4-6, 7-5
Order of finish: 1,2,3,6,4