GolThe University of Minnesota men's tennis team went 5-1 in singles en route to defeating Northwestern, 5-2, in the Golden Gophers' Big Ten opener today at the Baseline Tennis Center. The Maroon and Gold did not lose a set in all five of its singles victories.

The Wildcats gained the doubles point, going 2-1 with wins at the No. 2 & 3 spots. At No. 1 doubles, Avery Ticer and Sion Wilkins thumped Chuck Perrin and Matt Christian, 8-1, but NU grabbed wins in the other two matches to take an early 1-0 lead.

The 15th-ranked Golden Gophers (1-1, 1-0 Big Ten) thwarted any chance of an upset by No. 58 Northwestern with an outstanding showing in singles. Aleksey Zharinov, ranked No. 41 in the preseason rankings, downed Perrin, 6-2, 6-2 in No. 1 singles, Ticer defeated Christian Tempke, 6-1, 6-3, at No. 2 to give the Golden Gophers a lead they would not relinquish.

The lone loss for UM came ay No. 5 singles as Brian Lipinski fell to Willy Lock, 6-1, 6-1. Chris Wettengel, ranked No. 85 in the nation, continued his strong play, dropping Tommy Hanus, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 3 singles.

The Golden Gophers are next in action on Sunday, Feb. 1, with a Big Ten match at Iowa.

Minnesota 5, Northwestern 2
Singles
No. 1 - Aleksey Zharinov (UM) def. Chuck Perrin (NU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 - Avery Ticer (UM) def. Christian Tempke (NU), 6-1, 6-3
No. 3 - No. 85 Chris Wettengel (UM) def. Tommy Hanus (NU), 6-2, 6- 2
No. 4 - Andres Osorio (UM) def. Matt Christian (NU), 6-0, 6-2
No. 5 - Willy Lock (NU) def. Brian Lipinski (UM), 6-1, 6-1
No. 6 - Dusan Tabak (UM) def. Jamie Friedland (NU), 6-3, 6-2

Doubles
No. 1 - Ticer/Sion Wilkins (UM) def. Perrin/Christian (NU), 8-1
No. 2 - Hanus/Justin Hoeveler (NU) def. Lipinski/Osorio (UM), 8-3
No. 3 - Adam Schaechterle/Tempke (NU) def. Wettengel/Zharinov (UM), 8- 5