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No. 52 Minnesota Sweeps Doubleheader, Defeating North Dakota and Boise State
3/1/2025 8:04:00āÆPM | Tennis
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota tennis program swept its doubleheader Saturday, defeating North Dakota 4-0 and Boise State 5-2 at Baseline Tennis Center. The Gophers improved to 8-6 on the season.
Minnesota finished the day 7-2 in singles and 5-1 in doubles.
Quote from Coach Arterberry
"It was a tough start to Big Ten play," head coach Lois Arterberry said. "We faced a competitive Wisconsin team, but I'm really proud of how our doubles game has improved since last year, even though we didn't secure the doubles point. We're definitely getting better in that area. In singles, we had some competitive courts, and while we still have work to do, we're improving every day. We're hoping to continue that progress as we move deeper into Big Ten play. Against North Dakota, we showed a lot of confidence, and the team performed really well in singles. Against Boise, the tennis was competitive, but our girls showed up, played to their strengths, and went for itāthat's what it's all about. We're looking forward to hosting Illinois and Northwestern this weekend and just having some good matches
Ā
Minnesota vs. North Dakota
The Maroon and Gold secured the doubles point with three dominant wins. Jeselle Ante and Sofia Pinto opened the match with a 6-1 victory over Nore Heinitz and Jule Schulte at the No. 2 spot, while the No. 3 pair, Aiva Schmitz and Arina Valitova, clinched the point with a 6-1 win over Alyssa Giupponi and Andrea Pineda. In the No. 1 matchup, Mia Liepert and Anali Kocevar defeated Aziza Aubin and Ethel Li 6-2.
Minnesota secured three singles victories to clinch the match before play was halted. Sofia Pinto earned the first win at No. 5 with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 victory over Aziza Aubin. Arina Valitova followed at No. 4, defeating Nore Heinitz 6-1, 6-0. Aiva Schmitz sealed the win at No. 1, taking down Andrea Pineda 6-0, 6-3.
Results
Doubles
1. Mia Liepert/Anali Kocevar (MINN) def. Aziza Aubin/Ethel Li (UND) 6-2
2. Jeselle Ante/Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Nore Heinitz/Jule Schulte (UND) 6-1
3. Aiva Schmitz/Arina Valitova (MINN) def. Alyssa Giupponi/Andrea Pineda (UND) 6-1
Ā
Singles
1. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) def. Andrea Pineda (UND) 6-0, 6-3
2. Mia Liepert (MINN) vs. Jule Schulte (UND) 6-3, unfinished
3. Anlin Xie (MINN) vs. Ethel Li (UND) 6-2, unfinished
4. Arina Valitova (MINN) def. Nore Heinitz (UND) 6-1, 6-0
5. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Aziza Aubin (UND) 6-1, 6-0
6. Deniz Turan (MINN) vs. Alyssa Giupponi (UND) 6-4, unfinished
Ā
Order of Finish
Doubles: (2, 3, 1)
Singles: (5, 4, 2 )
Ā
Minnesota vs. Boise State
The Gophers started strong, clinching the doubles point with two wins. No. 3 pair Aiva Schmitz and Arina Valitova secured the first win, defeating Boise State's Bhakti Shah and Paula Schaefer 6-2. At No. 1 doubles, No. 87 ranked Zdena Safarova and Maya Dutta defeated Anali Kocevar and Mia Liepert 6-3. Sofia Pinto and Jeselle Ante clinched the point with a 6-3 win over Ryan Kershner and Lorelyz Marruffo.
Minnesota secured a 5-2 overall victory over Boise State, winning four singles matches to close out the competition. Sofia Pinto and Arina Valitova gave Minnesota an early 2-0 lead with dominant straight-set wins at No. 6 and No. 5 singles. Boise State responded at No. 2 singles, where Maya Dutta defeated Mia Liepert 6-2, 6-3, but Anali Kocevar extended the Gophers' lead with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 3. Paula Schaefer kept Boise State in the match with a comeback victory at No. 4, edging out Anlin Xie in a 10-8 super tiebreak. Aiva Schmitz sealed the win for Minnesota at No. 1 singles, battling past Zdena Safarova in a three-set thriller, 6-3, 5-7, 10-8.
Ā
Results
Doubles
1. Zdena Safarova/Maya Dutta (BOI) def. Mia Liepert/Anali Kocevar (MINN) 6-3
2. Jeselle Ante/Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Ryan Kershner/Lorelyz Marruffo (BOI) 6-3
3. Aiva Schmitz/Arina Valitova (MINN) def. Bhakti Shah/Paula Schaefer (BOI) 6-2
Ā
Singles
1. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) def. Zdena Safarova (BOI) 6-3, 5-7, 10-8
2. Maya Dutta (BOI) def. Mia Liepert (MINN) 6-2, 6-3
3. Anali Kocevar (MINN) def. Bhakti Shah (BOI) 6-2, 6-3
4. Paula Schaefer (BOI) def. Anlin Xie (MINN) 6-4, 3-6, 10-8
5. Arina Valitova (MINN) def. Ariadna Briones Gine (BOI) 6-2, 6-1
6. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Masa Viriant (BOI) 6-1, 6-2
Ā
Order of Finish
Doubles: (3, 1, 2)
Singles: (6, 5, 2, 3, 4, 1)
Ā
Notables
Next Up
The Golden Gophers will host Illinois on March 7, then Northwestern on March 9.
Ā
Minnesota finished the day 7-2 in singles and 5-1 in doubles.
Quote from Coach Arterberry
"It was a tough start to Big Ten play," head coach Lois Arterberry said. "We faced a competitive Wisconsin team, but I'm really proud of how our doubles game has improved since last year, even though we didn't secure the doubles point. We're definitely getting better in that area. In singles, we had some competitive courts, and while we still have work to do, we're improving every day. We're hoping to continue that progress as we move deeper into Big Ten play. Against North Dakota, we showed a lot of confidence, and the team performed really well in singles. Against Boise, the tennis was competitive, but our girls showed up, played to their strengths, and went for itāthat's what it's all about. We're looking forward to hosting Illinois and Northwestern this weekend and just having some good matches
Ā
Minnesota vs. North Dakota
The Maroon and Gold secured the doubles point with three dominant wins. Jeselle Ante and Sofia Pinto opened the match with a 6-1 victory over Nore Heinitz and Jule Schulte at the No. 2 spot, while the No. 3 pair, Aiva Schmitz and Arina Valitova, clinched the point with a 6-1 win over Alyssa Giupponi and Andrea Pineda. In the No. 1 matchup, Mia Liepert and Anali Kocevar defeated Aziza Aubin and Ethel Li 6-2.
Minnesota secured three singles victories to clinch the match before play was halted. Sofia Pinto earned the first win at No. 5 with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 victory over Aziza Aubin. Arina Valitova followed at No. 4, defeating Nore Heinitz 6-1, 6-0. Aiva Schmitz sealed the win at No. 1, taking down Andrea Pineda 6-0, 6-3.
Results
Doubles
1. Mia Liepert/Anali Kocevar (MINN) def. Aziza Aubin/Ethel Li (UND) 6-2
2. Jeselle Ante/Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Nore Heinitz/Jule Schulte (UND) 6-1
3. Aiva Schmitz/Arina Valitova (MINN) def. Alyssa Giupponi/Andrea Pineda (UND) 6-1
Ā
Singles
1. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) def. Andrea Pineda (UND) 6-0, 6-3
2. Mia Liepert (MINN) vs. Jule Schulte (UND) 6-3, unfinished
3. Anlin Xie (MINN) vs. Ethel Li (UND) 6-2, unfinished
4. Arina Valitova (MINN) def. Nore Heinitz (UND) 6-1, 6-0
5. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Aziza Aubin (UND) 6-1, 6-0
6. Deniz Turan (MINN) vs. Alyssa Giupponi (UND) 6-4, unfinished
Ā
Order of Finish
Doubles: (2, 3, 1)
Singles: (5, 4, 2 )
Ā
Minnesota vs. Boise State
The Gophers started strong, clinching the doubles point with two wins. No. 3 pair Aiva Schmitz and Arina Valitova secured the first win, defeating Boise State's Bhakti Shah and Paula Schaefer 6-2. At No. 1 doubles, No. 87 ranked Zdena Safarova and Maya Dutta defeated Anali Kocevar and Mia Liepert 6-3. Sofia Pinto and Jeselle Ante clinched the point with a 6-3 win over Ryan Kershner and Lorelyz Marruffo.
Minnesota secured a 5-2 overall victory over Boise State, winning four singles matches to close out the competition. Sofia Pinto and Arina Valitova gave Minnesota an early 2-0 lead with dominant straight-set wins at No. 6 and No. 5 singles. Boise State responded at No. 2 singles, where Maya Dutta defeated Mia Liepert 6-2, 6-3, but Anali Kocevar extended the Gophers' lead with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 3. Paula Schaefer kept Boise State in the match with a comeback victory at No. 4, edging out Anlin Xie in a 10-8 super tiebreak. Aiva Schmitz sealed the win for Minnesota at No. 1 singles, battling past Zdena Safarova in a three-set thriller, 6-3, 5-7, 10-8.
Ā
Results
Doubles
1. Zdena Safarova/Maya Dutta (BOI) def. Mia Liepert/Anali Kocevar (MINN) 6-3
2. Jeselle Ante/Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Ryan Kershner/Lorelyz Marruffo (BOI) 6-3
3. Aiva Schmitz/Arina Valitova (MINN) def. Bhakti Shah/Paula Schaefer (BOI) 6-2
Ā
Singles
1. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) def. Zdena Safarova (BOI) 6-3, 5-7, 10-8
2. Maya Dutta (BOI) def. Mia Liepert (MINN) 6-2, 6-3
3. Anali Kocevar (MINN) def. Bhakti Shah (BOI) 6-2, 6-3
4. Paula Schaefer (BOI) def. Anlin Xie (MINN) 6-4, 3-6, 10-8
5. Arina Valitova (MINN) def. Ariadna Briones Gine (BOI) 6-2, 6-1
6. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Masa Viriant (BOI) 6-1, 6-2
Ā
Order of Finish
Doubles: (3, 1, 2)
Singles: (6, 5, 2, 3, 4, 1)
Ā
Notables
- Minnesota improves to 5-0 all-time versus North Dakota with today's win.Ā
- Minnesota finished the season with a 9-0 record in singles against North Dakota opponents.
- Arina Valitova has won four of her last six singles matches, improving her record to 9-6 on the season.
- Sofia Pinto is 6-2 in singles dual matches this spring, winning six of her last nine matches.
- Minnesota is now 2-1 all-time against Boise State and 2-0 against Mountain West opponents this season (Boise State and Colorado State).
- Aiva Schmitz has an International Tennis number of 16.32 and defeated Zdena Safarova, who has a score of 14.10. Schmitz also reached 49 career singles wins with the victory.
- Sofia Pinto, Aiva Schmitz, and Arina Valitova won each of their singles and doubles matches today all going 4-0.
Next Up
The Golden Gophers will host Illinois on March 7, then Northwestern on March 9.
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