ovThe University of Minnesota Women's Tennis Team won its Big Ten opener on Saturday afternoon against No. 46 Purdue, 4-3, at the Baseline Tennis Center. The 50th-ranked Golden Gophers improve to 4-1 overall. Minnesota hosts Illinois tomorrow at Noon.

Purdue took the early lead with the doubles point. At the No. 1 position, the Boilermakers' Missy Wright and Gretchen Haynor defeated Angela Buergis and Michaela Havelkova, 9-8 (3) to earn the point. Minnesota's Amy Thomas and Valerie Vladea claimed the Golden Gophers' only doubles victory at No. 2 over Purdue's Melissa Woods and Melissa Iqbal, 8-2.

Minnesota claimed four of the six singles matches and Vladea clinched the team win with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Haynor at No. 2. Buergis cruised in the No. 1 singles match, 6-2, 6-0, over Iqbal. Amy Thomas was victorious at No. 4 over Brittany Reitz, 6-4, 7-5. Freshman Nischela Reddy improved to 4-1 on the season with a 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 6.

#50 Minnesota 4, #46 Purdue 3

Singles
No. 1 - Angela Buergis (MN) def. Melissa Iqbal (PUR), 6- 2, 6-0
No. 2 - Valerie Vladea (MN) def. Gretchen Haynor (PUR), 3- 6, 6-2, 6- 3
No. 3 - Shawna Zuccarini (PUR) def. Michaela Havelkova (MN), 3-6, 6- 2, 6-4
No. 4 - Amy Thomas (MN) def. Brittany Reitz (PUR), 6-4, 7- 5
No. 5 - Nischela Reddy (MN) def. Lara Burgarello (PUR), 1- 6, 6-2, 6- 1
No. 6 - Amy Walgenbach (PUR) def. Brandi Watts (MN), 6-2, 6-2

Doubles
No. 1 - Missy Wright/Haynor (PUR) def. Buergis/Havelkova (MN), 9-8 (3)
No. 2 - Vladea/Thomas (MN) def. Melissa Woods/Iqbal (PUR), 8-2
No. 3 - Burgarello/Reitz (PUR) def. Watts/Reddy (MN), 8-2