University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, September 20
Minneapolis, MN
9:00 AM
University of Minnesota
vs
Gopher Invitational
Players Mentioned
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
Photo by: Bjorn Franke
2024 Gopher Invitational Recap
9/22/2024 6:01:00 PM | Tennis
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota tennis team completed the 12th annual Gopher Invitational tournament on Sunday going 2-2 in doubles and 8-0 in singles. Over the course of the three-day tournament, each day began with two rounds of doubles, followed by a round of best two-out-of-three singles play. The Golden Gophers finished the weekend with a 13-5 record in doubles and 21-4 in singles.
Key Moments from Sunday
Juniors Aiva Schmitz and Arina Valitova showed their experience on Sunday, each collecting wins in singles and doubles on the final day of the tournament. Schmitz defeated St. Thomas in a 3-6, 6-1, 10-2 tie-breaking win. Valitova closed out the entire Gopher Invite with her game winning point to defeat Milwaukee 6-2, 7(4)-6(2).
"I'm really happy with the way that we performed over the weekend, especially on the last day," head coach Lois Arterberry said. "Having six new players and getting an opportunity to see them play is exactly why we have the invite. We also get to play against a lot of teams in the area, some of which we're gonna see during the season. A part of what we talked about in the locker room before going out on the court on Sunday was ending the tournament the way that we would want to start our next tournament (ITAs). I was super happy to see that, even when they were tired and maybe not feeling their best, we were just working on figuring out how to win a match when things are not at a 100 percent."
Regarding individual performances, Arterberry notes that "We had great performances from the freshmen. I'm excited to see how they grow as the season goes on. The returners had some good performances as well. Some of the standout performances from the weekend were Arina, Aiva, Anlin, Deniz, and Jeselle. We got an opportunity to also move things around and change some teams up as the weekend went by for doubles. So we got an opportunity to see some new lineups, and doubles was not one of our strengths last year, and so we're looking at having stronger doubles this year. And I think we have a good opportunity to do so with our bigger roster and just a different dynamic on the team."
Weekend Standouts
Sophomore transfer Jeselle Ante led the Gophers, going undefeated on the weekend, with five wins in doubles and three wins in singles play. Freshman Deniz Turan opened her collegiate career going 3-0 in singles and 4-1 in doubles. The Gophers had dominant singles play from Schmitz, Valitova and Anlin Xie, each finishing 3-0 on the weekend.
Overall, six newcomers made their debut in maroon and gold, with Nora Knezevic, Yinong Ma, Xie, Valitova, Ante, and Turan all securing their first wins as Gophers.
Next Up
Minnesota is on hiatus until Oct. 9-14 when the Golden Gophers travel to Memphis, Tenn., to compete in the ITA Central Regionals.
Singles Results
Day 3 (Sunday):
Deniz Turan
Def. Reagan Welch (Northern Illinois) 6-3, 6-1.
Aiva Schmitz
Def. Anna Sidorenko (St. Thomas) 3-6, 6-1, 10-2.
Sofia Pinto
Def. Ethel Li (N. Dakota) 4-6, 6-0, 10-8.
Anlin Xie
Def. Serena Biria (University of Chicago) 6-1, 6-1.
Jeselle Ante
Def. Jule Schulte (North Dakota) 4-0, W/O.
Nora Knezevic
Def. Nore Heinitz (N. Dakota) 6-1, 6-2.
Arina Valitova
Def. Erica Ekstrand (University of Chicago) 6-4, 6-1.
Yinong Ma
Def. Sara Simonova (Milwaukee) 6(2)-7(4), 6-1, 10-6
Day 2 (Saturday)
Mia Liepert
Def. Khayli Buckles (Omaha) 6-2, 6-4.
Deniz Turan
Def. Andrea Pineda (North Dakota) 6-0, 6-2.
Aiva Schmitz
Def. Amanda de Oliveira (S. Dakota) 6-2, 6-2.
Sofia Pinto
Lost to Isabelle Chong (University of Chicago) 6-4, 6-1.
Anlin Xie
Def. Laure Razet (Milwaukee) 7(3)-6(1), 3-0 ret.
Jeselle Ante
Def. Beata Havlickova (S. Dakota) 6-1, 3-6, 10-8.
Nora Knezevic
Lost to Maria Dzemeshkevich (Northern Illinois) 1-6, 4-6.
Arina Valitova
Def. Nadiia Konieva (Milwaukee) 6-2, 7(4)-6(2).
Day 1 (Friday)
Mia Liepert
Lost to Sylwia Mikos (University of Chicago) 4-6, 4-6.
Deniz Turan
Def. Kim Zizek (Northern Iowa) 6-4, 6-1.
Aiva Schmitz
Def. Valerie Negin (Creighton) 6-4, 4-6, 10-6.
Sofia Pinto
Def. Emma Davis (Marquette) 6-4, 6-1.
Anlin Xie
Def. Sorcha Caves (South Dakota) 6-4, 6-2
Yinong Ma
Lost to Laura Koralnik (Drake) 6-4, 0-2, Ret.
Jeselle Ante
Def. Bianca Rademacher (Creighton) W/O.
Nora Knezevic
Def. Caroline Lindahl (St.Thomas) 6-7(8) 6-2 (10-2).
Arina Valitova
Def. Theodora Kousiou (N. Illinois) 6-3,6-3.
Doubles Results:
Day 3 (Sunday)
Mia Liepert and Arina Valitova
Def. Sylwia Mikos and Oliwia Mikos (University of Chicago) 6-0.
Nora Knezevic and Sofia Pinto
Lost to Andie Weise and Tiera Jarmond (Marquette) 4-6.
Aiva Schmitz and Jeselle Ante
Def. Nina Wiese and Paula Arcarons (Omaha) 6-4.
Anlin Xie and Deniz Turan
Lost to Nore Heinitz and Jule Schulte (North Dakota) 3-6.
Day 2 (Saturday)
Aiva Schmitz and Arina Valitova
Lost to Jule Schulte and Ethel Li (North Dakota) 6-2.
Def. Elisa Rubio and Laure Razet (Marquette) 6-2.
Mia Liepert and Sofia Pinto
Def. Tiera Jarmond and Andie Weise (Marquette) 7-6.
Lost to Laura Koralnik and Popiol (Drake) 4-6.
Deniz Turan and Jeselle Ante
Def. Isabelle Chong and Erica Ekstrand (University of Chicago) 6-3.
Def. Grace Chadick and Bea Havlickova (South Dakota) 7(7)-6(5).
Anlin Xie and Nora Knezevic
Def. Darta Dalecka and Lorena Cardoso (Northern Iowa) 6-2.
Lost to Nataly Ninova and Maria Dzemeshkevich (Northern Illinois) 4-6.
Day 1 (Friday)
Aiva Schmitz and Yinong Ma
Def. Isabelle Righi and Lucia Yecora (Northern Illinois) 7(8)-6(6).
Lost to Keegan Van Pelt and Khayli Buckels (Omaha) 6(4)-7(6).
Mia Liepert and Sofia Pinto
Def. Darta Delecka and Lorena Cardoso (Northern Iowa) 6-4.
Def. Amanda de Oliveira and Sorcha Caves (South Dakota) 6-4.
Deniz Turan and Jeselle Ante
Def. Reagan Welch and Theodore Kousiou (Northern Illinois) 6-2.
Def. Erica Ekstrand and Isabelle Chong (University of Chicago) 6-2.
Key Moments from Sunday
Juniors Aiva Schmitz and Arina Valitova showed their experience on Sunday, each collecting wins in singles and doubles on the final day of the tournament. Schmitz defeated St. Thomas in a 3-6, 6-1, 10-2 tie-breaking win. Valitova closed out the entire Gopher Invite with her game winning point to defeat Milwaukee 6-2, 7(4)-6(2).
"I'm really happy with the way that we performed over the weekend, especially on the last day," head coach Lois Arterberry said. "Having six new players and getting an opportunity to see them play is exactly why we have the invite. We also get to play against a lot of teams in the area, some of which we're gonna see during the season. A part of what we talked about in the locker room before going out on the court on Sunday was ending the tournament the way that we would want to start our next tournament (ITAs). I was super happy to see that, even when they were tired and maybe not feeling their best, we were just working on figuring out how to win a match when things are not at a 100 percent."
Regarding individual performances, Arterberry notes that "We had great performances from the freshmen. I'm excited to see how they grow as the season goes on. The returners had some good performances as well. Some of the standout performances from the weekend were Arina, Aiva, Anlin, Deniz, and Jeselle. We got an opportunity to also move things around and change some teams up as the weekend went by for doubles. So we got an opportunity to see some new lineups, and doubles was not one of our strengths last year, and so we're looking at having stronger doubles this year. And I think we have a good opportunity to do so with our bigger roster and just a different dynamic on the team."
Weekend Standouts
Sophomore transfer Jeselle Ante led the Gophers, going undefeated on the weekend, with five wins in doubles and three wins in singles play. Freshman Deniz Turan opened her collegiate career going 3-0 in singles and 4-1 in doubles. The Gophers had dominant singles play from Schmitz, Valitova and Anlin Xie, each finishing 3-0 on the weekend.
Overall, six newcomers made their debut in maroon and gold, with Nora Knezevic, Yinong Ma, Xie, Valitova, Ante, and Turan all securing their first wins as Gophers.
Next Up
Minnesota is on hiatus until Oct. 9-14 when the Golden Gophers travel to Memphis, Tenn., to compete in the ITA Central Regionals.
Singles Results
Day 3 (Sunday):
Deniz Turan
Def. Reagan Welch (Northern Illinois) 6-3, 6-1.
Aiva Schmitz
Def. Anna Sidorenko (St. Thomas) 3-6, 6-1, 10-2.
Sofia Pinto
Def. Ethel Li (N. Dakota) 4-6, 6-0, 10-8.
Anlin Xie
Def. Serena Biria (University of Chicago) 6-1, 6-1.
Jeselle Ante
Def. Jule Schulte (North Dakota) 4-0, W/O.
Nora Knezevic
Def. Nore Heinitz (N. Dakota) 6-1, 6-2.
Arina Valitova
Def. Erica Ekstrand (University of Chicago) 6-4, 6-1.
Yinong Ma
Def. Sara Simonova (Milwaukee) 6(2)-7(4), 6-1, 10-6
Day 2 (Saturday)
Mia Liepert
Def. Khayli Buckles (Omaha) 6-2, 6-4.
Deniz Turan
Def. Andrea Pineda (North Dakota) 6-0, 6-2.
Aiva Schmitz
Def. Amanda de Oliveira (S. Dakota) 6-2, 6-2.
Sofia Pinto
Lost to Isabelle Chong (University of Chicago) 6-4, 6-1.
Anlin Xie
Def. Laure Razet (Milwaukee) 7(3)-6(1), 3-0 ret.
Jeselle Ante
Def. Beata Havlickova (S. Dakota) 6-1, 3-6, 10-8.
Nora Knezevic
Lost to Maria Dzemeshkevich (Northern Illinois) 1-6, 4-6.
Arina Valitova
Def. Nadiia Konieva (Milwaukee) 6-2, 7(4)-6(2).
Day 1 (Friday)
Mia Liepert
Lost to Sylwia Mikos (University of Chicago) 4-6, 4-6.
Deniz Turan
Def. Kim Zizek (Northern Iowa) 6-4, 6-1.
Aiva Schmitz
Def. Valerie Negin (Creighton) 6-4, 4-6, 10-6.
Sofia Pinto
Def. Emma Davis (Marquette) 6-4, 6-1.
Anlin Xie
Def. Sorcha Caves (South Dakota) 6-4, 6-2
Yinong Ma
Lost to Laura Koralnik (Drake) 6-4, 0-2, Ret.
Jeselle Ante
Def. Bianca Rademacher (Creighton) W/O.
Nora Knezevic
Def. Caroline Lindahl (St.Thomas) 6-7(8) 6-2 (10-2).
Arina Valitova
Def. Theodora Kousiou (N. Illinois) 6-3,6-3.
Doubles Results:
Day 3 (Sunday)
Mia Liepert and Arina Valitova
Def. Sylwia Mikos and Oliwia Mikos (University of Chicago) 6-0.
Nora Knezevic and Sofia Pinto
Lost to Andie Weise and Tiera Jarmond (Marquette) 4-6.
Aiva Schmitz and Jeselle Ante
Def. Nina Wiese and Paula Arcarons (Omaha) 6-4.
Anlin Xie and Deniz Turan
Lost to Nore Heinitz and Jule Schulte (North Dakota) 3-6.
Day 2 (Saturday)
Aiva Schmitz and Arina Valitova
Lost to Jule Schulte and Ethel Li (North Dakota) 6-2.
Def. Elisa Rubio and Laure Razet (Marquette) 6-2.
Mia Liepert and Sofia Pinto
Def. Tiera Jarmond and Andie Weise (Marquette) 7-6.
Lost to Laura Koralnik and Popiol (Drake) 4-6.
Deniz Turan and Jeselle Ante
Def. Isabelle Chong and Erica Ekstrand (University of Chicago) 6-3.
Def. Grace Chadick and Bea Havlickova (South Dakota) 7(7)-6(5).
Anlin Xie and Nora Knezevic
Def. Darta Dalecka and Lorena Cardoso (Northern Iowa) 6-2.
Lost to Nataly Ninova and Maria Dzemeshkevich (Northern Illinois) 4-6.
Day 1 (Friday)
Aiva Schmitz and Yinong Ma
Def. Isabelle Righi and Lucia Yecora (Northern Illinois) 7(8)-6(6).
Lost to Keegan Van Pelt and Khayli Buckels (Omaha) 6(4)-7(6).
Mia Liepert and Sofia Pinto
Def. Darta Delecka and Lorena Cardoso (Northern Iowa) 6-4.
Def. Amanda de Oliveira and Sorcha Caves (South Dakota) 6-4.
Deniz Turan and Jeselle Ante
Def. Reagan Welch and Theodore Kousiou (Northern Illinois) 6-2.
Def. Erica Ekstrand and Isabelle Chong (University of Chicago) 6-2.
Cinematic Recap: Gopher Invite
Tuesday, September 30
Behind the Scenes: Media Day
Thursday, September 18
First Practice of 2025
Tuesday, September 09
Cinematic: Gophers-Maryland
Tuesday, April 01