University of Minnesota Athletics

Tuesday, March 5
IMG Academy
12:00 PM

University of Minnesota

3
vs
4

Pennsylvania

Sofia Pizzoni
Photo by: Brad Rempel

Minnesota Drops Tight 4-3 Match to UPenn

3/5/2024 7:12:00 PM | Tennis

TAMPA, FLA. - On Tuesday, the University of Minnesota tennis program fell to the University of Pennsylvania in a 4-3 neutral court match at IMG Academy. This marks two straight one-point losses for the Golden Gophers, after they fell to Denver in a 4-3 match at home on Sunday. Minnesota drops to a 7-5 record on the season.
 
Penn put the first point on the board after winning the doubles round. The Quakers took matches in spots 1 and 2 to open things up, with the Gophers' No. 3 Sofia Pizzoni and Zeyneb Sarioglan notching the only doubles win for Minnesota on the day.
 
In the singles round, Minnesota fought back but fell just short, going 3-3. Penn's Esha Velaga opened the round with a 6-3, 6-4 win over No. 1 Mia Liepert. No. 2 Aiva Schmitz put the Gophers on the board with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Eileen Wang. Penn would eventually clinch the overall match after Gavriella Smith defeated No. 3 Emma Belluomini 7(7)-6(2).
 
Results
Doubles
1. Esha Velaga/Gavriella Smith (PENN) def. Aiva Schmitz/Sofia Pinto (MINN) 6-0. 
2. Eileen Wang/Sabine Rutlauka (PENN) def. Mia Liepert/Emma Belluomini (MINN) 6-4.
3. Sofia Pizzoni/Zeyneb Sarioglan (MINN) def. Maya Urata/Sasha Motlagh (PENN) 6-3. 
 
Singles
1. Esha Velaga (PENN) def. Mia Liepert (MINN) 6-3, 6-4.
2. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) def. Eileen Wang (PENN) 6-3, 6-3.
3. Gavriella Smith (PENN) def. Emma Belluomini (MINN) 7(7)-6(2), 6-4.
4. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Liza Tkachenko (PENN) 6-3, 6-2.
5. Sofia Pizzoni (MINN) def. Saige Roshkoff (PENN) 6(7)-7(9), 6-2, 6-1.
6. Maya Urata (PENN) def. Zeyneb Sarioglan (MINN) 6-3, 6-3. 
 
Order of Finish:
Doubles: (1, 2, 3)
Singles: (1, 2, 4, 6, 3, 5)
 
Next Up
The Gophers will make their Big Ten season debut on March 9 when the program travels to face Indiana. Then, on March 10, the team will head to West Lafayette, Ind. to match up against Purdue.
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