University of Minnesota Athletics
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/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
Minnesota Falls to No. 17 USC 4-1 in Big Ten Opener
3/6/2026 7:21:00 PM | Tennis
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota tennis team opened Big Ten play with a 4-1 loss to No. 17 USC on Friday, falling to 9-5 on the season.
Key Moments
USC claimed the doubles point by winning two of three matches. Minnesota struck first at No. 1, where Nora Knezevic and Arina Valitova posted a 6-4 victory over Krisha Mahendran/Lily Fairclough. USC answered at No. 3 as Immi Haddad and Emma Charney defeated Jeselle Ante and Yinong Ma, 6-2, to even the doubles point. The Trojan clinched doubles at No. 2, with Dani Borruel and Eugenia Zoyaya earning a 6-4 win over Anlin Xie and Mia Liepert.
USC won four singles matches to defeat Minnesota, clinching the match with wins at Nos. 1, 5, 4 and 2. Jeselle Ante fell to Immi Haddad at the No. 1 spot, while Krisha Mahendran defeated Anlin Xie at No. 5. Sofia Pinto earned Minnesota's point with a victory over Lily Fairclough at No. 4. Aiva Schmitz then dropped a decision to No. 98 Eugenia Zozaya at No. 2, which clinched the match for USC. Mia Liepert's match against No. 39 Emma Charney at No. 3 went unfinished, and Arina Valitova's match against Dani Borruel at No. 6 also went unfinished.
Results
Doubles
1. Nora Knezevic/Arina Valitova (MINN) def. Krisha Mahendran/Lily Fairclough (USC) 6-4.
2. Anlin Xie/Mia Liepert (MINN) lost to Dani Borruel/Eugenia Zoyaya (USC) 4-6.
3. Yinong Ma/Jeselle Ante (MINN) lost to Immi Haddad/Emma Charney (USC) 2-6.
Singles
1. Jeselle Ante (MINN) def. Immi Haddad (USC) 1-6, 3-6.
2. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) def. No. 98 Eugenia Zozaya (USC) 3-6, 4-6.
3. Mia Liepert (MINN) def. No. 39 Emma Charney (USC) 4-6, 5-2, unfinished.
4. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Lily Fairclough (USC) 6-3, 6-2.
5. Anlin Xie (MINN) def. Krisha Mahendran (USC)1-6,1-6.
6. Arina Valitova (MINN) lost to Dani Borruel (USC) 6-3,1-6, unfinished.
Order of Finish
Doubles: (1, 3, 2)
Singles: (1, 5, 4, 2)
Next Up
The Gophers will travel to Indiana to face Purdue on March 13 and Indiana on March 15.
Key Moments
USC claimed the doubles point by winning two of three matches. Minnesota struck first at No. 1, where Nora Knezevic and Arina Valitova posted a 6-4 victory over Krisha Mahendran/Lily Fairclough. USC answered at No. 3 as Immi Haddad and Emma Charney defeated Jeselle Ante and Yinong Ma, 6-2, to even the doubles point. The Trojan clinched doubles at No. 2, with Dani Borruel and Eugenia Zoyaya earning a 6-4 win over Anlin Xie and Mia Liepert.
USC won four singles matches to defeat Minnesota, clinching the match with wins at Nos. 1, 5, 4 and 2. Jeselle Ante fell to Immi Haddad at the No. 1 spot, while Krisha Mahendran defeated Anlin Xie at No. 5. Sofia Pinto earned Minnesota's point with a victory over Lily Fairclough at No. 4. Aiva Schmitz then dropped a decision to No. 98 Eugenia Zozaya at No. 2, which clinched the match for USC. Mia Liepert's match against No. 39 Emma Charney at No. 3 went unfinished, and Arina Valitova's match against Dani Borruel at No. 6 also went unfinished.
Results
Doubles
1. Nora Knezevic/Arina Valitova (MINN) def. Krisha Mahendran/Lily Fairclough (USC) 6-4.
2. Anlin Xie/Mia Liepert (MINN) lost to Dani Borruel/Eugenia Zoyaya (USC) 4-6.
3. Yinong Ma/Jeselle Ante (MINN) lost to Immi Haddad/Emma Charney (USC) 2-6.
Singles
1. Jeselle Ante (MINN) def. Immi Haddad (USC) 1-6, 3-6.
2. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) def. No. 98 Eugenia Zozaya (USC) 3-6, 4-6.
3. Mia Liepert (MINN) def. No. 39 Emma Charney (USC) 4-6, 5-2, unfinished.
4. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Lily Fairclough (USC) 6-3, 6-2.
5. Anlin Xie (MINN) def. Krisha Mahendran (USC)1-6,1-6.
6. Arina Valitova (MINN) lost to Dani Borruel (USC) 6-3,1-6, unfinished.
Order of Finish
Doubles: (1, 3, 2)
Singles: (1, 5, 4, 2)
Next Up
The Gophers will travel to Indiana to face Purdue on March 13 and Indiana on March 15.
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