For their first two matches in the Big Ten tournament, the Gophers appeared unbeatable. Minnesota breezed through Wisconsin and Indiana, defeating both teams 4-0.
Then they ran into the immovable brick wall that is Ohio State.
A 3-seed entering the tournament, the Gophers handled Wisconsin after receiving a bye in the first round.
The tandem of Rok Bonin and Julian Dehn clinched the doubles point for Minnesota after the teams split the first two matches.
Bonin, Dehn, and Brendan Ruddock would go on to win their respective singles matches as well, giving the Gophers a 4-0 victory before the other three matches finished.
The win over Wisconsin set up a Minnesota-Indiana rematch in the semifinals, and the Gophers made sure to exact revenge on the team that handed them their first Big Ten loss this season.
Minnesota swept the doubles matches and Dehn, Ruddock and Tobias Wernet won singles matches en route to another 4-0 victory, putting the Gophers in the final against powerhouse Ohio State, which was on a 77-match winning streak in Big Ten play.
Make that 78.
The Buckeyes eviscerated the Gophers 4-0, winning all three doubles matches and earning wins at the top three singles spots to add a Big Ten tournament crown to their regular-season title.
Women win first round matchup, swept in second
After ending the regular season with back-to-back victories, the Gophers womenâÄôs tennis team defeated Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten tournament, only to be demolished by Michigan a round later.
Singles victories from Alexa Palen, Magdalena Wiecha, Doron Muravnik, and Yuliana Umanets gave Minnesota a 4-2 victory over Iowa.
However, the Gophers didnâÄôt win a single set against the top-seeded Wolverines and were defeated 5-0.
Other notes
Wernet and Bonin were named to the All-Big Ten first team.
Wernet, who was also a Sportsmanship Award Honoree, was a unanimous selection. This is the second time he has been named All-Big Ten. The senior had a 22-9 singles record, including 16-4 in dual competition.
On the other hand, this was BoninâÄôs first time being named to the All-Big Ten team. The sophomore was a perfect 10-0 in Big Ten doubles play and finished with a 21-13 singles record.
Freshman Natallia Pintusava was named to the All-Big Ten second team. She posted an 18-14 record this year and had three victories over ranked opponents.
