University of Minnesota Athletics

Saturday, February 15
Tuscaloosa, AL
10:00 AM

University of Minnesota

3
vs
4

East Tennessee State

Kocevar

Minnesota Falls to East Tennessee State and UAB in Saturday Doubleheader

2/15/2025 8:39:00 PM | Tennis

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Minnesota tennis program played in a doubleheader Saturday, falling to East Tennessee State 4-3 at the Alabama Tennis Stadium and UAB 4-2 at the Hoover Van Met Tennis Center. The Gophers fall to 6-4 on the season.
 
Minnesota vs. East Tennessee State
ETSU secured the doubles point to start the match against Minnesota. At No. 1 doubles, Daniela Rivera and Alessandra Caceres defeated Mia Liepert and Anali Kocevar 6-4. At No. 2, Anlin Xie and Sofia Pinto earned a 6-4 win over Jana Rovira and Julia Millan. At No. 3, Ralista Alexandrova and Ksenija Rage topped Jeselle Ante and Aiva Schmitz 6-4.
 
ETSU secured a 4-3 victory over Minnesota, winning three of six singles matches to clinch the win. Anali Kocevar opened with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Jana Rovira at No. 2. Daniela Rivera put ETSU back in the lead by defeating Aiva Schmitz 6-1, 6-4 at No. 1. Mia Liepert responded with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) win over Alessandra Caceres at No. 3, while Sofia Pinto added another point for Minnesota with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Ksenija Rage at No. 6. Ralista Alexandrova tied the match at No. 5 with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 win over Jeselle Ante. Julia Millan completed the ETSU victory by rallying for a 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 win over Anlin Xie at No. 4.
 
Results
Doubles
1. Daniela Rivera and Alessandra Caceres (ETSU) def. Mia Liepert and Anali Kocevar and Korina Roso (MINN) 6-4.
2. Anlin Xie and Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Jana Rovira and Julia Millan (ETSU) 6-4.
3. Ralista Alexandrova and Ksenija Rage (ETSU) def. Jeselle Ante and Aiva Schmitz (MINN) 6-4.

Singles
1. Daniela Rivera (ETSU) def. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) 6-1, 6-4
2. Anali Kocevar (MINN) def. Jana Rovira (ETSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Mia Liepert (MINN) def. Alessandra Caceres (ESTU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
4. Julia Millan (ETSU) def. Anlin Xie (MINN) 6-7, 6-4, 6-1
5. Ralista Alexandrova (ETSU) def. Jeselle Ante (MINN) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
6. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Ksenija Rage (ETSU) 7-5, 7-5.
 
Order of Finish
Doubles: (1, 2, 3)
Singles: (2, 1, 3, 6, 5, 4)
 
Minnesota vs. UAB
Minnesota secured the doubles point with wins at the No. 3 and No. 1 spots. UAB struck first, as Entya Ratkic and Mackenzie White defeated Anlin Xie and Sofia Pinto 6-2 at No. 2 doubles. The Gophers responded at No. 3, with Aiva Schmitz and Arina Valitova earning a 6-4 victory over Nera Tesankic and Kristyna Damaskova. The deciding match came at No. 1, where Anali Kocevar and Mia Liepert edged Vanessa Mellynchuk and Klara Kajabova 7-6 to give Minnesota the early lead.
 
UAB secured the overall victory with four singles wins. The first match to finish was at No. 4, where Mackenzie White defeated Arina Valitova 7-5, 6-0. Minnesota responded at No. 6, with Jeselle Ante earning the Gophers' lone singles victory, 6-3, 6-4, over Nera Tesankic. UAB regained momentum at No. 1, as Vanessa Mellynchuk battled back to defeat Anali Kocevar 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. Kristyna Damaskova followed with a comeback win over Aiva Schmitz, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3, at No. 2. The Blazers sealed the win at No. 5, where Enya Ratkic outlasted Sofia Pinto 5-7, 7-6, 6-3. The match between Mia Liepert and Klara Kajabova at No. 3 was unfinished after splitting two sets, 7-5, 6-7.
 
Results
Doubles
1. Anali Kocevar/Mia Liepert (MINN) def. Vanessa Mellynchuk/Klara Kajabova (UAB) 7-6.
2. Entya Ratkic/Mackenzie White (UAB) def. Anlin Xie/Sofia Pinto (MINN) 6-2.
3. Aiva Schmitz/Arina Valitova (MINN) def. Nera Tesankic/Kristyna Damaskova (UAB) 6-4.
 
Singles
1. Vanessa Mellynchuk (UAB) def. Anali Kocevar (MINN) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
2. Kristyna Damaskova (UAB) def. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) 4-6, 7(7)-6(5), 6-3
3. Mia Liepert (MINN) vs. Klara Kajabova (UAB) 7-5, 6-7, UF
4. Mackenzie White (UAB) def. Arina Valitova (MINN) 7-5, 6-0
5. Enya Ratkic (UAB) def. Sofia Pinto (MINN) 5-7, 7-6, 6-3
6. Jeselle Ante (MINN) def. Nera Tesankic (UAB) 6-3, 6-4
 
Order of Finish
Doubles: (2, 1, 3)
Singles: (4, 6, 1, 2, 5,)
 
How to Follow
Fans can follow the weekend's events on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
 
The University of Alabama is scheduled to livestream the match tomorrow at this link

Next Up
The Golden Gophers will travel back to Tuscaloosa tomorrow to face Alabama at 10:00 a.m. (CT) at the Alabama Tennis Stadium.
 
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