BurnsvillThe University of Minnesota women's tennis team opened its spring season hosting the Minnesota Court Classic. The Golden Gophers lost 7-0 to No. 23 Kentucky at the Northwest Athletic Club in Burnsville, Minn. Minnesota will play in the third place match tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. They will face Marquette, while Kentucky takes on No. 3 Duke for the championship at 4:00 p.m.

The Gophers, who were without 2001 All-Big Ten selection Valerie Vladea, lost the first match of the season to put them at 0-1.

Minnesota had the best showing from its No. 1 singles position as Michaela Havelkova lost the first set 6-4, but battle back in the second to take a 4-3 lead. However, Kentucky's Sarah Witten would fight back and win the set 7-5.

Senior co-captains Jennifer Howard and Andrea Rose played at the No. 2 and 3 singles, but were both defeated. Howard lost 6-2, 6-3, while Rose was handed a 6-3, 6-4 loss.

Singles Sarah Witten def. Michaela Havelkova, 6-4, 7-5 Carolina Mayorga def. Jennifer Howard, 6-2, 6-3 Lauren Rookledge def. Andrea Rose, 6-3, 6-4 Amy Trefethen def. Kelly Perry, 6-0, 6-2 Leigh Bradwell def. Brandi Watts, 6-2, 6-0 Jill Buckley def. Kandia Batiste, 6-3, 6-2 Doubles Witten/Mayorga def. Havelhova/Rose, 8-3 Bradwell/Rookledge def. Howard/Perry, 8-3 Trefethen/Buckley def. Watts/Batiste, 8-1

Duke/Marquette Results Singles 1. #3 Kelly McCain (DU) def. Gen Charron (6-1, 6-3) 2. #26 Amanda Johnson (DU) def. Eva Trujillo (6-2, 6-0) 3. #15 Julie DeRoo (DU) def. Vero Vrisneo (6-2, 7-5) 4. Ioana Plesu (DU) def. Anna Pavlovic (7-5, 6-4) 5. Saras Arasu (DU) def. Sommer LaValley (6-1, 6-0) 6. Hillary Adams (DU) def. Alex Spankovic (6-1, 6-1) Doubles 1. McCain/Johnson (DU) def. Charron/Vrisneo (8-2) 2. Adams/DeRoo (DU) def. Pavlovic/Trujillo (8-1) 3. Plesu/Katie Granson (DU) def. LaValley/Belle Espinosa (8-1)