butThe University of Minnesota women's tennis team opened its Big Ten season with a close 4-3 loss to 43rd-ranked Iowa. The No. 71 Golden Gophers (2-5, 0-1 Big Ten) were swept in the doubles matches, but nearly pulled out the victory with a strong showing in singles.

The Maroon and Gold lost two 8-5 matches at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to begin the dual. Angela Buergis and Nischela Reddy moved to 4-3 on the season, falling to Meg Racette and Mintz at No. 1, while Ida Malmberg and Lindsay Risebrough lost to Chelsea Glynn and Anastasia Zhukova and Hilary Tyler at No. 2.

Singles play featured three-set matches at No. 2, 3 and 4, with Minnesota taking two of the bouts. At No. 2, Reddy defeated Mintz, 6- 2, 2-6, 6-4, while Risebrough outlasted Glynn, 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 at No. 4. The Golden Gophers came within one set of winning the dual when Malmberg was edged by Zhukova at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

The Maroon and Gold heads on the road next weekend to face Virginia Tech and Marshall in Huntington, W.V., on March 6-7.

#43 Iowa 4, #71 Minnesota 3
February 28, 2004
Baseline Tennis Center
Minneapolis, Minn.

Singles
No. 1 - Angela Buergis (MN) def. Meg Racette (IA), 6-1, 6- 3
No. 2 - Nischela Reddy (MN) def. Hillary Mintz (IA), 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
No. 3 - Anastasia Zhukova (IA) def. Ida Malmberg (MN), 6-2, 4-6, 6- 4
No. 4 - Lindsay Risebrough (MN) def. Chelsea Glynn (IA), 7-5, 5-7, 6- 1
No. 5 - Deni Alexandrova (IA) def. Emily Bezek (MN), 6-1, 6-1
No. 6 - Hilary Tyler (IA) def. Megan Steiger (MN), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
No. 1 - Racette/Mintz (IA) def. Buergis/Reddy (MN), 8-5
No. 2 - Glynn/Zukova (IA) def. Malmberg/Risebrough (MN), 8-5
No. 3 - Alexandrova/Tyler (IA) def. Shelby Rohrer/Jenna Tellefsen (MN), 8-0