matchThe University of Minnesota men's tennis team won its sixth consecutive dual match today, defeating No. 56 Indiana, 7-0, in Bloomington, Ind. The 33rd-ranked Golden Gophers swept the six singles matches and went 2-1 in doubles to improve to 12-7 overall and 7-1 in the Big Ten. The Maroon and Gold is now 8-1 in its last nine duals, with its lone conference loss coming to top-ranked Illinois.

Minnesota opened the dual by taking the doubles point to gain the early momentum. UM's No. 1 team of Chris Wettengel and Andres Osorio defeated Ryan Recht and John Stone, 9-7, to improve to 11-6 as a duo. The win stopped a two-match losing streak for Wettengel and Osorio. The Golden Gophers clinched the doubles point with an 8-3 win by Dusan Tabak and Brian Lipinski over Ryan McCarthty and Neil Kenner at No. 2.

In singles play, Minnesota went 6-0 with four three-set victories. At No. 1, Wettengel, ranked No. 56 in the nation, dropped the first set 6-2 to Recht, but ralled to win the final two sets, 6-3, 7-6 (8). Wettengel is now on a team-high nine-match winning streak. The 2003 Big Ten Singles Champion has not lost since March 16 at Fresno State.

At No. 2, 53rd-ranked Aleksey Zharinov made quick work of Kenner, 6- 1, 6-3, to improve to 10-5 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten this season. Osorio picked up UM's second three-set win, downing Tom Bagnato, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 3. The Golden Gophers wrapped up the sweep with wins by Clay Estes at No. 4, Lipinski at No. 5 and Tabak at No. 6. Estes is now on a four-match winning streak, while Tabak has won three straight.

The Golden Gophers return home next weekend to face Penn State and Ohio State in the final week of the Big Ten regular season. Minnesota hosts the Nittany Lions on Friday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m., and the Buckeyes on Sunday, April 25, at noon. Both duals are at the Baseline Tennis Center.

#33 Minnesota 7, #56 Indiana 0
Bloomington, Ind.
April 17, 2004

Singles
1.) #56 Chris Wettengel (MN) def. Ryan Recht (IU), 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8)
2.) #53 Aleksey Zharinov (MN) def. Neil Kenner (IU), 6- 1, 6-3
3.) Andres Osorio (MN) def. Tom Bagnato (IU), 1-6, 6- 2, 6-2
4.) Clay Estes (MN) def. David Bubenicek (IU), 6-2, 6-3
5.) Brian Lipinski (MN) def. Ryan McCarthy (IU), 1- 6, 6-0, 6-3
6.) Dusan Tabak (MN) def. John Stone (IU), 7-5, 6-7 (5), (12-10)

Doubles
1.) Wettengel/Osorio (MN) def. Recht/Stone (IU), 9-7
2.) Tabak/Lipinski (MN) def.McCarthy/Kenner (IU), 8-3
3.) Praibis/Ishtuganov (IU) def. Estes/Zharinov (MN), 8-2