University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, April 7
Minneapolis, MN
12:00 PM
University of Minnesota
0
vs
7
Northwestern
Players Mentioned
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
Photo by: Keya Shapiro
Minnesota Drops Sunday Match to No. 37 Northwestern
4/7/2024 3:42:00 PM | Tennis
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota tennis program falls 7-0 to No. 37 Northwestern at home, marking the Gophers' second straight loss against an ITA top 40-ranked team. On Friday, Apr. 5, Minnesota lost 4-0 on the road against No. 32 Illinois.
The Maroon and Gold drop to a losing conference record for the first time in the 2024 spring season, now 3-4 against Big Ten programs. Three of Minnesota's four conference losses came against top 40-ranked opponents. The Gophers are 10-9 overall on the season.
Key Moments
Northwestern clinched the doubles point to open the match. The Wildcats' No. 3 Britany Lau and Maria Shusharina took down Aiva Schmitz and Zeyneb Sarioglan 6-1. The overall round was secured when Anali Kocevar and Emma Belluomini fell to Christina Hand and Justine Leong at the No. 1 spot. Sofia Pinto and Sofia Pizzoni's 4-3 at No. 2 was left unfinished.
Minnesota battled hard but ultimately could not get a point on the board in singles. The No. 6 spot was the first to finish with Britany Lau defeating Sofia Pinto 6-4, 6-2. The Wildcats added to their lead at the No. 2 spot, then clinched the overall match when the Gophers' Emma Belluomini fell to Christina Hand 6-4, 6-4 at No. 4. The remaining three singles matches were then played out. Out of those three, two matches came down to a ten-point tiebreak set. Minnesota fell just short in all of the remaining matches, however, completing Northwestern's 7-0 sweep on the day.
Results
Doubles
1. Christina Hand/Justine Leong (NUW) def. Anali Kocevar/Emma Belluomini (MINN) 6-1.
2. Sofia Pinto/Sofia Pizzoni (MINN) vs. Sydney Pratt/Neena Feldman (NUW) 4-3, unfinished.
3. Britany Lau/Maria Shusharina (NUW) def. Aiva Schmitz/Zeyneb Sarioglan (MINN) 6-1.
Singles
1. Maria Shusharina (NUW) def. Mia Liepert (MINN) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
2. Justine Leong (NUW) def. Anali Kocevar (MINN) 6-3, 6-4.
3. Sydney Pratt (NUW) def. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 1-0 (11-9). 4. Christina Hand (NUW) def. Emma Belluomini (MINN) 6-4, 6-4.
5. Kiley Rabjohns (NUW) def. Zeyneb Sarioglan (MINN) 6-4, 1-6, 1-0 (13-11).
6. Britany Lau (NUW) def. Sofia Pinto (MINN) 6-4, 6-2.
Order of Finish
Doubles: 3, 1
Singles: 6, 2, 4, 5, 3, 1
Next Up
Next weekend, the Gophers will play their final two home matches of the season. On Friday, Apr. 12, Minnesota hosts Michigan State at 3:30 p.m. CT. Then on Sunday, Apr. 14, the Maroon and Gold take on No. 2 Michigan at 11:00 a.m. CT.
The Maroon and Gold drop to a losing conference record for the first time in the 2024 spring season, now 3-4 against Big Ten programs. Three of Minnesota's four conference losses came against top 40-ranked opponents. The Gophers are 10-9 overall on the season.
Key Moments
Northwestern clinched the doubles point to open the match. The Wildcats' No. 3 Britany Lau and Maria Shusharina took down Aiva Schmitz and Zeyneb Sarioglan 6-1. The overall round was secured when Anali Kocevar and Emma Belluomini fell to Christina Hand and Justine Leong at the No. 1 spot. Sofia Pinto and Sofia Pizzoni's 4-3 at No. 2 was left unfinished.
Minnesota battled hard but ultimately could not get a point on the board in singles. The No. 6 spot was the first to finish with Britany Lau defeating Sofia Pinto 6-4, 6-2. The Wildcats added to their lead at the No. 2 spot, then clinched the overall match when the Gophers' Emma Belluomini fell to Christina Hand 6-4, 6-4 at No. 4. The remaining three singles matches were then played out. Out of those three, two matches came down to a ten-point tiebreak set. Minnesota fell just short in all of the remaining matches, however, completing Northwestern's 7-0 sweep on the day.
Results
Doubles
1. Christina Hand/Justine Leong (NUW) def. Anali Kocevar/Emma Belluomini (MINN) 6-1.
2. Sofia Pinto/Sofia Pizzoni (MINN) vs. Sydney Pratt/Neena Feldman (NUW) 4-3, unfinished.
3. Britany Lau/Maria Shusharina (NUW) def. Aiva Schmitz/Zeyneb Sarioglan (MINN) 6-1.
Singles
1. Maria Shusharina (NUW) def. Mia Liepert (MINN) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
2. Justine Leong (NUW) def. Anali Kocevar (MINN) 6-3, 6-4.
3. Sydney Pratt (NUW) def. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 1-0 (11-9). 4. Christina Hand (NUW) def. Emma Belluomini (MINN) 6-4, 6-4.
5. Kiley Rabjohns (NUW) def. Zeyneb Sarioglan (MINN) 6-4, 1-6, 1-0 (13-11).
6. Britany Lau (NUW) def. Sofia Pinto (MINN) 6-4, 6-2.
Order of Finish
Doubles: 3, 1
Singles: 6, 2, 4, 5, 3, 1
Next Up
Next weekend, the Gophers will play their final two home matches of the season. On Friday, Apr. 12, Minnesota hosts Michigan State at 3:30 p.m. CT. Then on Sunday, Apr. 14, the Maroon and Gold take on No. 2 Michigan at 11:00 a.m. CT.
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