After losing two out of its first three matches of the season, the Gophers’ women’s tennis team has elevated its play to the tune of seven straight victories. 

Most recently, the Gophers claimed victories 7-0 over Drake and South Dakota at Baseline Tennis Center on Friday. In their seven game win streak, the team has dropped just one match. They remain undefeated at home this season, winning all six matchups. 

“The team has been working really hard and they know we are a really good team at home,” head coach Catrina Thompson said after last weekend’s play. “At home there is such confidence we have when we’re out there. If we do our jobs on each court, they’re going to give themselves a chance to be successful.”

Minnesota swept all 12 singles matchups in the doubleheader. Ekin Ercetin, Cammy Frei and Juliet Zhang each picked up a pair of wins that counted toward the team’s total. Over the two duals, Minnesota’s singles lineup dropped just two sets. No. 2 singles player Tiffany Huber dropped the second set against Drake’s Maria Tatarnikova and No. 1 singles player Tina Kreinis dropped her first set against South Dakota’s Jana Lazarevic. However, both won their matches in a third-set tiebreaker. 

For the season, Minnesota is 42-8 in singles play. 

Zhang and Ercetin led the group with eight wins, while Dalila Said has yet to lose in seven singles matches. 

In doubles competition, the Gophers won five of six matches for the weekend. Huber and Frei dropped the only match, losing 4-6 against Drake. 

Ercetin and Said have the most doubles competition wins, boasting a 5-1 record on the season. 

The team is 15-7 overall in doubles play. 

At 8-2 so far this season, the Gophers have made marketable improvement from a year ago when they were only 5-5 at this point and finished the season 14-11. However, Minnesota’s competition is sure to stiffen up as Big Ten play looms at the beginning of March. Last year, the Gophers finished 6-5 in conference play.