Gophers freshman women’s tennis player Nora Sauska lost on Monday in the first round of the NCAA Singles Championships, falling to No. 1 seed Karin Miller of Duke, 6-3, 6-4.
Sauska, a native of Budapest, Hungary, finished her first season at Minnesota with a 23-6 record, which she compiled primarily at the No. 1 singles position.
Sauska, ranked No. 62 in the latest Rolex Rankings, was the third Gophers women’s tennis player in the history of the program — and the third in the past three years — to qualify for the tournament. Tiffany Gates (1995) and Dana Peterson (1996) also qualified for NCAAs.
The singles championship will continue through this week and end on May 25. Stanford defeated Florida 5-1 to capture the team championship on Sunday.
Softball players honored
Gophers softball players Rachel Nelson, Amber Hegland and Steph Klaviter were named to the all-Mideast Region second team.
Nelson, a senior, has made the all-region team in each of her four years at Minnesota. She was also a first-team all-American last year and a third-team all-American in 1995.
The center fielder from Good Thunder, Minn., had a .382 batting average this season and led the Gophers in hits (71), runs scored (45) and stolen bases (25). Nelson ended her career with a Big Ten career record 313 hits.
Hegland, a junior, was an all-region selection for the third consecutive season after leading the Gophers with a .400 batting average. Hegland holds the team’s career record for doubles (42) and RBIs (133).
Klaviter, a sophomore, was also a second-team all-region selection last season. The New Ulm, Minn., native went 16-4 with a 1.32 ERA this season.
Nelson, Hegland and Klaviter are now eligible to receive all-American honors, which will be announced later this week.
Banquet scheduled next week
The 1997 Patty Berg Banquet, which honors academic and athletic achievements, will take place on May 28 at the Radisson Metrodome Hotel. CBS Sports reporter Michele Tafoya will emcee the event. Call 624-6587 for more information.