Karina Chiarelli and Alessandra Ferrazzi each won in both singles and doubles as Minnesota defeated Missouri 5-2 in non-conference women’s tennis action on Saturday in Columbia, Mo.
Minnesota posted four straight-set singles victories and used a dramatic rally to take the doubles point. The Gophers are ranked 52nd in the country and moved to 6-3 for the season. Missouri is ranked 75th nationally and fell to 4-3 overall.
Chiarelli and Ferrazzi combined for an 8-6 win over Jamie Mera and Mallory Weber at No. 1 doubles and the Tigers’ Jessica Giuggioli and Kaitlyn Ritchie posted an 8-3 win over Minnesota’s Tijana Koprivica and Niltooli Wilkins at No. 2. However, the Gophers captured the doubles point when Jackie Sperling and Magdalena Wiecha rallied to win the final five games for a 9-7 win over Sofia Ayala and Danielle Day at No. 3.
Koprivica gave the Gophers a 2-0 lead with a 7-5, 6-0 win over Day at No. 4 singles, winning the final 11 games of the match after a 5-2 first-set deficit. Ferrazzi followed with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Giuggioli at No. 1 and Chiarelli added a 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory over Weber at No. 2 to clinch the match.
Wilkins delivered a 6-3, 6-4 win over Mera at No. 3 to put Minnesota ahead 5-0 before the Tigers claimed the final two matches. Ritchie beat Wiecha 6-1, 6-4 at No. 5 and Ayala edged Sperling 7-5, 7-6 (1) at No. 6.
The Gophers open Big Ten play on Sun., March 1 with a dual at Iowa at 11 a.m.
Doubles
1. Karina Chiarelli-Alessandra Ferrazzi (MINN) def. Jamie Mera-Mallory Weber (MIZZ) 8-6
2. Jessica Giuggioli-Kaitlyn Ritchie (MIZZ) def. Tijana Koprivica-Niltooli Wilkins (MINN) 8-3
3. Jackie Sperling-Magdalena Wiecha (MINN) def. Sofia Ayala-Danielle Day (MIZZ) 9-7
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles
1. Ferrazzi (MINN) def. Giuggioli (MIZZ) 6-1, 6-2
2. Chiarelli (MINN) def. Weber (MIZZ) 6-4, 7-6 (3)
3. Wilkins (MINN) def. Mera (MIZZ) 6-3, 6-4
4. Koprivica (MINN) def. Day (MIZZ) 7-5, 6-0
5. Ritchie (MIZZ) def. Wiecha (MINN) 6-1, 6-4
6. Ayala (MIZZ) def. Sperling (MINN) 7-5, 7-6 (1)
Order of finish: 4, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
