winThe Minnesota women's tennis team defeated Michigan State, 7-0, Friday at the Northwest Athletic Club in Bloomington to earn its first Big Ten Conference victory of the season. The Golden Gophers, winners of four straight matches, improve to 8-3 overall, 1-2 in the Big Ten.

Minnesota started the match by winning two of three doubles matches to earn the doubles point. The No. 1 doubles team of sophomore Michaela Havelkova and freshman Valerie Vladea defeated Caroline Lay and Trine Lise Juliussen, 8-4. The No. 3 team of sophomore Amy Thomas and freshman Brandi Watts defeated Heidi Leffler and Christee Chargot, 8-1.

The Golden Gophers then won all six singles matches, each in straight sets. Vladea and Watts each swept their opponents, 6-0, 6-0. Vladea defeated Lay at the No. 1 position, while Watts defeated Leffler at No. 6. Thomas defeated Natasha Skogerboe, 6-4, 6-3, at the No. 2 position, while Havelkova defeated Juliussen at No. 3, 6-1, 6-2. Senior Tammy Wang defeated Josie Schmude at No. 5, 6-1, 6-1, and junior Jennifer Howard defeated Chargot at No. 5, 6-1, 6-1.

Minnesota hosts Michigan on Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Northwest Athletic Club.

Singles No. 1 Valerie Vladea def. Caroline Lay 6-0, 6-0 No. 2 Amy Thomas def. Natasha Skogerboe 6-4, 6-3 No. 3 Michaela Havelkova def. Trine Lise Juliussen 6-1, 6-2 No. 4 Tammy Wang def. Josie Schmude 6-0, 6-2 No. 5 Jennifer Howard def. Christee Chargot 6-1, 6-1 No. 6 Brandi Watts def. Heidi Leffler 6-0, 6-0 Doubles No. 1 Havelkova/Vladea def. Lay/Juliussen 8-4 No. 2 Howard/Wang lost to Schmude/Skogerboe 8-7 (10-8) No. 3 Thomas/Watts def. Chargot/Leffler 8-1