Final Stats
March 13, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS -- Border Battles between Wisconsin and Minnesota are usually dramatic, and Friday's women's tennis match between the Badgers and Golden Gophers was no exception.
In a four hour, 17 minute match, No. 59 Minnesota outlasted Wisconsin, 4-3, at the Baseline Tennis Center.
The afternoon began with the doubles point going to Minnesota in dramatic fashion.
The Badgers' third doubles pair of Sydney Rider and Ekaterina Stepanova found success for the fifth time this season, topping Minnesota's Caroline Ryba and Mehvish Safdar, 8-6. The Badger pairing is now 5-3 on dual season, winning four of their last five completed matches.
Minnesota took the second doubles match, but Wisconsin's top pairing of Maria Avgerinos and Lauren Chypyha would push the Gophers' Tereza Brichacova and Paula Rincon-Otero to a tiebreak. With the announced crowd of 122 on their feet and filling the stadium with noise, the host pair would prevail, 8-7 (4) to claim the first point of the match.
"We competed really well in doubles," Wisconsin head coach Tina Samara said. "A few little things that we haven't taken care of in practice were exposed at the worst times."
Singles play started slow for the Badgers, falling on courts four and five early, including Anastasia Tripolskaya's first action of the spring, but the Badgers would battle back. Each of the remaining matches would go three sets, extending the match and igniting the crowd.
Lauren Chypyha rallied after losing her first set, 4-6, to take the second, 6-2. The Badger junior would stay on top the rest of the way, knocking off Tereza Brichacova, 7-6 (4) in the tiebreak. The Toronto, Ontario native improved to 10-1 on the first court for the Badgers, and she added the win over the No. 59 team's top player to her already impressive resume.
Lauren Burich kept her hot start to the season going, winning her ninth match of the year, battling to defeat Jessika Mozia of Minnesota, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (2). The junior is now 9-2 after claiming her first victory in her only opportunity playing on the third singles court this season.
Ekaterina Stepanova has now won three straight matches, holding down the No. 6 court for the Badgers. Stepanova took down the Gophers' Julia Courter, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (3).
Ultimately, the effort from the Cardinal and White was not enough, as the Badgers would finish by splitting the singles matches and the Gophers' doubles victory proved to be the difference.
"We fought well," Samara said of her team. "We have to find a way to bring that home to practice on a daily basis though."
The Badgers will travel to Michigan State to take on the Big Ten rival Spartans on Saturday, March 22, before heading to Michigan to battle the No. 11 Wolverines on Sunday, March 23.
Minnesota 4, Wisconsin 3
March 13, 2015
Baseline Tennis Center
Singles:
1. Lauren Chypyha (WIS) def. Tereza Brichacova (MINN) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4)
2. Caroline Ryba (MINN) def. Maria Avgerinos (WIS) 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
3. Lauren Burich (WIS) def. Jessika Mozia (MINN) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (2)
4. Maja Vujic (MINN) def. Anastas. Tripolskaya (WIS) 6-0, 6-1
5. Aria Lambert (MINN) def. Kelsey Grambeau (WIS) 6-2, 6-2
6. Ekaterina Stepanova (WIS) def. Julia Courter (MINN) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (3)
Order of Finish: 4,5,3,6,2,1
Doubles:
1. Tereza Brichacova/Paula Rincon Otero (MINN) def. Maria Avgerinos/Lauren Chypyha (WIS) 8-7 (4)
2. Jessika Mozia/Julia Courter (MINN) def. Lauren Burich/Kelsey Grambeau (WIS) 8-5
3. Sydney Rider/Ekaterina Stepanova (WIS) def. Caroline Ryba/Mehvish Safdar (MINN) 8-6
Order of Finish: 2,3,1
