The Gophers womenâÄôs tennis team opened its home season Friday night with a 5-2 loss to Oklahoma but came back Sunday with a 5-2 win over previously undefeated Oregon.
Despite going 1-1 on the weekend, Minnesota head coach Tyler Thomson was satisfied with his teamâÄôs performance.
âÄúWeâÄôve got some really good spots and some spots of inconsistency,âÄù Thomson said. âÄúWeâÄôve just got to keep working on putting up the same behavior and same effort every single match and every single point.âÄù
Oklahoma jumped out to an early lead Friday by claiming the doubles point, defeating the Gopher pairings of Natallia Pintusava and Yuliana Umanets and Alessandra Ferrazzi and Alexa Palen. Magdalena Wiecha and Mariana Spilca won their match, but it was too late as the doubles point had already been decided.
The Sooners kept rolling, winning four of six singles matches. Spilca was defeated in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0, as was Palen, 6-4, 6-2. Ferrazzi lost in three sets, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. Doron Muravnik also lost in three, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
Wiecha provided the Gophers with their first singles victory of the night with a 6-4, 6-3 win. Pintusava provided the other one, breaking out of her three-match losing streak in the process with a three-set victory, 7-6, 1-6, 6-2.
Despite the loss on Friday, Minnesota had a chance to redeem itself when Oregon (4-1) came to town Sunday, and they made sure to not let that opportunity slip away.
The Gophers got on the board early by earning the doubles point, winning two of the three doubles matches. Spilca and Wiecha gave the Gophers the first win in doubles, and though Ferrazzi and Pintusava lost their match, the doubles point was locked up with a win from Muranvik and Palen.
Minnesota then proceeded to take four of the six singles matches to secure the victory.
Palen made quick work of her opponent, winning in straight sets 6-0, 6-3.
The Ducks got their first point with a victory over Muranvik, 6-4, 6-3, but Minnesota extended its lead when Ferrazzi won her match 7-6, 6-2.
Wiecha clinched the deciding fourth point and team victory for the Gophers, winning her match 6-4, 6-4.
Pintusava added the final Minnesota victory with a 7-6, 7-5 victory at No. 1 singles, putting her slump in the rearview mirror.
âÄúItâÄôs definitely important when your top player is successful,âÄù Thomson said of Pintusava. âÄúIt sets the tone for everybody else. IâÄôm definitely glad to see her get back on the right track.âÄù
The Gophers record now sits at 3-3. The past weekendâÄôs matches marked the start of a seven-match home-stand for Minnesota, which will be critical for the teamâÄôs success.
âÄúItâÄôs definitely an advantage to be at home. WeâÄôve got to take advantage of our opportunities while at home,âÄù Thomson said.
âÄúWe have a lot of good opponents coming in. We have the capability of having a very successful home run. We just need to take care of the little things, and then the big things will take care of themselves.âÄù
