On the final day of a two-week recruiting trip across Europe, Gophers women’s tennis head coach Lois Arterberry signed Deniz Turan, the final member of the 2024-25 recruiting class.
Turan was not expecting to attend college in the U.S. but was up for the challenge. She committed to the team one day before classes started at the University of Minnesota. She left the country a few days later to fly to Austria to represent her country, Turkey, in the J300 Oberpullendorf Junior Regional Championship.
Turan returned to Minneapolis one day before the Gopher Invitational and finished 3-0 in singles and 4-1 in doubles.
The freshman continued her dominance in singles in the B Draw of ITA Central Regional Championship in Memphis, Tennessee. Turan won five straight matches to claim the B Draw title and extended her undefeated streak to eight games to begin her collegiate career.
In the ITA Regional championship match, Turan trailed Missouri’s Gion Octa 8-4 in the tiebreaking third set. But she said it was an exciting moment for her having to fight back from the deficit.
“I try to focus on the moment and try to focus on my game instead of thinking like future or past,” Turan said. “Just play my best and not give up.”
The six-point run that won Turan the championship is not something coaches expect from players in their first season.
Arterberry said Turan is settling in with all the travel and games but has played well.
“It’s super impressive. As a freshman, it’s not easy to do,” Arterberry said. “It takes a lot of time and dedication, tears.”
The freshman represented Turkey earlier this year as a member of the U18 Turkish National Team in 2020 for the U14 team and for the U12 team in 2018.
Turan said she hopes to improve a few things as she progresses deeper into her first season.
“I’m trying to play more offense and I’m trying to step into the court more,” Turan said.
The Gophers women’s tennis team has 10 women with six of them arriving on campus this offseason. Junior Aiva Schmitz is the only upperclassman who has been with the Gophers her entire career.
Schmitz said she guides her teammates through the adjustment process of acclimating to the new school and team along with the level of Big Ten play.
“I’ve been here the longest. I’ve seen different coaches, three new teams,” Schmitz said. “I’ve always told them it’s okay if you’re confused about things. It’s okay if you’re overwhelmed. Everyone is overwhelmed their first year.”
Arterberry said Schmitz is a big advocate for the team making sure the culture is healthy.
Through two tournaments, Arterberry is still evaluating the level of this year’s team and making decisions on who will represent the Gophers in doubles and singles in the spring.
Arterberry said one thing the Gophers look to improve on from last season is doubles.
“Doubles was our downfall last year,” Arterberry said. “We really want to focus this year, in the fall, trying to solidify what teams we’re going to have.”
Setting the pairs early allows for the chemistry to be built and creates strategies that will boost their play on the court, according to Arterberry.
Minnesota will head to Hilton Head, South Carolina, to participate in the International Tennis Federation W35 tournament starting Oct. 21.
