MinnesotaThe University of Minnesota women's tennis team opened the 2001 spring season with a win over Richmond, 5-2, in the Minnesota Court Classic at the Northwest Athletic Club in Bloomington.

Minnesota opened the match by winning two of three doubles matches to earn the doubles point and take a 1-0 lead. The No. 1 doubles team of sophomore Michaela Havelkova and freshman Valerie Vladea defeated Jeannette Cluskey and Jodi Kenoyer, 8-3. The No. 3 team of sophomore Amy Thomas and Brandi Watts swept Casey Cohen and Patty Devlin, 8-0.

The Gophers then won three singles matches to earn the victory. Thomas defeated Kenoyer, 6-1, 6-1, at the No. 2 position, Wang defeated Cohen at No. 3, and Watts defeated Devlin, 6-0, 6-3. Minnesota added a singles win from Vladea, who defeated Cluskey 6-2, 6-2.

The Golden Gophers will next be in action on Friday, taking on Drake at 7 p.m. at the Northwest Athletic Club.

Gophers 5, Richmond 2

Singles No. 1 Valerie Vladea, Gophers, def. Jeannette Cluskey, Richmond, 6-2, 6-2 No. 2 Amy Thomas, Gophers, def. Jodi Kenoyer, Richmond, 6-1, 6-1 No. 3 Vanessa Bagnato, Richmond, def. Michaela Havelkova, Gophers, 7-6, 2-6 (10-7) No. 4 Tammy Wang, Gophers, def. Casey Cohen, Richmond, 6-2, 6-0 No. 5 Monika Peetes, Richmond, def. Jennifer Howard, Gophers, 3-6, 7-6 (10-5) No. 6 Brandi Watts, Gophers, def. Patty Devlin, Richmond, 6-0, 6-3 Doubles No. 1 Havekova/Vladea def. Clusky/Kenoyer 8-3 No. 2 Bagnato/Peetes def. Wang/Andrea Rose 8-6 No. 3 Thomas/Watts def. Cohen/Devlin 8-0