University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Rutgers
Players Mentioned
Minnesota Sweeps Singles in 6-1 Victory over Rutgers
3/7/2021 4:36:00 PM | Tennis
Minneapolis, MN. - The Gophers swept singles play for the second match in a row. The team captures back-to-back victories for the first time this season.
Minnesota (2-5) continues their all-time unbeaten streak against Rutgers (0-6). The Scarlet Knights have yet to beat the Gophers in six all-time B1G meetings.
Doubles Play
Doubles play saw Rutgers grab the point that needed all three matches to decide. Seniors Juliet Zhang and River Hart dropped their match, while Rachel Hanford and Dalila Said won theirs to require the third set result. Ekin Ercetin and Zeyneb Sarioglan battled back from a 2-4 deficit to force a tiebreaker which ultimately went 7-2 to the visitors.
Singles Play
The Gophers picked up right where they left off in singles play from Friday's match. Rachel Hanford, Dalila Said and River Hart quickly rattled off straight-set victories to swing the match back in favor of the 'U'.
Freshman Zeyneb Sarioglan finished her straight-set victory on Court 2 to clinch the victory for the home side. Senior Juliet Zhang took care of business on Court 1 6-4, 6-0 to make it 5-1. Ekin Ercetin battled back after dropping the first set to secure the singles play sweep.
Quotable
"Every match we have been getting better as a team," said head coach Catrina Thompson. "Happy to pick up two team wins and for the girls to all get singles wins this weekend. We have a short week to prepare at home before we head out on the road again, but we're proud of the girls' performance this weekend."
Notable
-6/7 of singles matches were straight set victories.
-Rachel Hanford moves to 4-0 in the #1 singles position.
-Rachel Hanford currently holds the best singles conference record (6-1) for a Gopher freshman since at least 2005.
-Sophomore Ekin Ercetin picked up her 40th career victory (singles and doubles).
Minnesota is back in action Friday Mar. 12 on the road against Purdue. The match is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. start.
Results
Doubles
1. Dalila Said/Rachel Hanford (MINN) def. Maya Jacobs/Chloe Brown (RU) 6-3
2. Alisa Prinyarux/Tess Fisher (RU) def. Ekin Ercetin/Zeyneb Sarioglan (MINN) 7-6 (7-2)
3. Jaci Cochrane/Daira Cardenas (RU) def. Juliet Zhang/River Hart (MINN) 6-1
Order of finish: 3,1,2
Singles
1. Rachel Hanford (MINN) def. Maya Jacobs (RU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Ekin Ercetin (MINN) def. Tess Fisher (RU) 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-7)
3. Dalila Said (MINN) def. Alisa Prinyarux (RU) 6-3, 6-2
4. River Hart (MINN) def. Chloe Brown (RU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Zeyneb Sarioglan (MINN) def. Jaci Cochrane (RU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Juliet Zhang (MINN) def. Daira Cardenas (RU) 6-4, 6-0
Order of finish: 1,3,4,5,6,2