Niltooli Wilkins rallied from one set down to claim the final match as Minnesota knocked off 44th-ranked Marshall 4-3 on Friday at the Baseline Tennis Center.
It was the first of two matches against ranked opponents this weekend for the Gophers, who host 36th-ranked Washington on Sunday at 11 a.m. Minnesota is now 5-2 overall and Marshall fell to 5-3.
Wilkins dropped her opening set at No. 3 singles to Karolina Soor, but the freshman battled back to take the second set 6-3 and won the third 6-2 to clinch the team win. Minnesota had three other singles players win in straight sets after Marshall took the doubles point.
Alessandra Ferrazzi rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Isabell Raich at No. 2 singles and Tijana Koprivica coasted to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Deanna Bailey at No. 4. Magdalena Wiecha had Minnesota’s other singles win with a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 5. Wiecha and Ferrazzi teamed for the Gophers’ lone doubles win with an 8-4 triumph at No. 3.
Karina Chiarelli battled the nation’s 33rd-ranked player, Kellie Schmitt, to a 6-3, 6-3 loss at No. 1 singles, while Jackie Sperling fell to Catherine Kellner 7-5, 7-5 at No. 6.
Chiarelli and Alex Seaton were defeated by Schmitt and Soor, the nation’s 44th-ranked doubles tandem 8-2. The Herd claimed the doubles point after Bailey and Keener beat Wilkins and Koprivica 8-4.
#66 Minnesota 4, #44 Marshall 3
Doubles
1. #44 Kellie Schmitt-Karolina Soor (MAR) def. Karina Chiarelli-Alex Seaton (MINN) 8-2
2. Deanna Bailey-Jessica Keener (MAR) def. Niltooli Wilkins-Tijana Koprivica (MINN) 8-4
3. Alessandra Ferrazzi-Magdalena Wiecha (MINN) def. Catherine Kellner-Isabell Raich (MAR) 8-4
Singles
1. #33 Kellie Schmitt (MAR) def. Karina Chiarelli (MINN) 6-3, 6-3
2. #115 Alessandra Ferrazzi (MINN) def. Isabell Raich (MAR) 6-1, 6-1
3. Niltooli Wilkins (MINN) def. Karolina Soor (MAR) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Tijana Koprivica (MINN) def. Deanna Bailey (MAR) 6-1, 6-0
5. Magdalena Wiecha (MINN) def. Jessica Keener (MAR) 6-4, 6-3
6. Catherine Kellner (MAR) def. Jackie Sperling (MINN) 7-5, 7-5
