Minnesota Equals Best Start in 25 Years With Pair of Friday Victories

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Schedule

Oct 16

TBA

Tennis

at ITA Central Regional

Oct 31

TBA

Tennis

vs Michigan State Invite

Nov 6

TBA

Tennis

vs ITA Conference Masters Championships

On Friday, Minnesota concluded their six game home stand by earning wins over North Dakota and Northern Iowa. Across the run of games, the Gophers have won each match, including a duo of undefeated doubleheader contests. With this pair of wins, they advanced to 9-0, matching their best start in a quarter century.

In the afternoon, the Gophers took on the Fighting Hawks of North Dakota, finding early success in a 7-0 win. The first two doubles matches were split, with North Dakota winning at No. 1, and Maria Rizzolo and Ekin Ercetin winning at the No. 3 position. Dalila Said and Anfisa Danilchenko settled the point, taking five consecutive games following a 1-2 deficit.

In singles play, Minnesota posted victories at every position. At positions No. 1 and No. 6, Rachel Hanford and Dalila Said each cruised to 6-0, 6-0 victories. Improving to 8-0 on the year, Maria Rizzolo sealed the match with her straight set defeat of Allie Ochotorena.

At. No. 4, Vasia Karvouni earned a 6-1, 6-2 win over Nore Heinitz. Anfisa Danilchenko bested Angela Georgieva, 6-0, 6-3, en route to her sixth win of the season without defeat. The match wrapped up with Emilee Duong winning a hard-fought battle with Andrea Jannson. The back and forth affair saw Duong win the twelfth game, after trailing 5-6 in the first set. She followed up with a tiebreak victory. Carrying momentum into set two, she finished the match 7-6, 6-4. The match ended 7-0, in favor of Minnesota.

In the evening, Minnesota collected their second win of the day, beating the Northern Iowa Panthers, 7-0. The Gophers maintained earlier doubles pairings, as Maria Rizzolo and Ekin Ercetin picked up their second win of the day at No. 3. Dalila Said and Anfisa Danilchenko clinched the point for Minnesota, earning a 6-0 victory. At No.1, Rachel Hanford and Emilee Duong improved to 1-1 on the day, finishing Minnesota's third win, 6-1.

All Minnesota players won their singles matches in straight sets. Five singles competitions were played, on account of injuries to Northern Iowa. At No. 2 and No. 3, Vasia Karvouni and Anfisa Danilchenko each won 6-0, 6-0. Lucy Lu and Zeyneb Sarioglan each won 6-1, 6-0, at No.4 and No. 5. Friday matchplay concluded with Ekin Ercetin defeating Lorena Cardoso, 6-4, 6-2.

The Gophers won their fifth consecutive match by the score of 7-0. Friday's victories mark their eighth and ninth wins to start the season, doing so without a loss. This equals the best start in Minnesota women's tennis since 1997. The Gophers will look to eclipse that record next weekend, as they travel to Utah for a pair of matches.

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Catrina Thompson: "The girls are playing confidently and we are ready to hit the road for our next matches against two tough teams. Proud of the girls' performance today after the last two weekends of double headers".

Next Up:
The Gophers hit the road for the first time since Florida, as they prepare for an extended set of road matches. They begin in Salt Lake City, as Minnesota will take on Washington State and Utah next Saturday and Sunday. Streaming will be available through Utah Athletics, while live coverage and updates will be available on GopherWTennis Twitter. Recap and Statistics will be posted upon result completion.

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