The Minnesota women's tennis team fell to 4-11 on the year and 0-3 in the Big Ten with a 7-0 loss to No. 8 Michigan on Saturday at the Baseline Tennis Center. The match was the team's second straight contest against a top-10 opponent and was the Gophers' eighth match in their last nine against a top-70 opponent.

"Michigan is a very good team," said UM head coach Tyler Thomson. "They're solid from top to bottom. We had some good performances today, but we didn't do what was necessary to make it competitive."

Minnesota, playing for the first time at home in 27 days and for the first time at all in more than two weeks was swept in doubles. Playing without lineup regulars Magdalena Wiecha and Alexa Palen, each doubles duo kept it even early, but couldn't keep the Wolverines from pulling away. Michigan picked up 8-2 wins at No. 1 and No. 3 before completing the doubles competition sweep with an 8-4 triumph at No. 2.

The Wolverines, with a slew of ranked singles players, came out roaring in the singles competition and won all six matches in straight sets.

No. 69 Sam Crister gave Michigan a 2-0 lead by defeating UM's Peta Forsyth at No. 4 and the Wolverines added to their lead when eighth-ranked Denise Muresan took down No. 56 Natallia Pintusava, who was playing singles for only the third time since Feb. 20. Michigan clinched its fourth consecutive victory when Rika Tatsuno denied Mariana Spilca her first singles win since Feb. 6, winning 6-0, 6-3 at No. 5.

Edina, Minn.-native and 98th-ranked Whitney Taney added to Michigan's score with a victory in her home state over Doron Muravnik and senior Alessandra Ferrazzi was then downed by No. 73 Brooke Bolender 6-1, 6-4 at No. 2.

Michelle Sulahian beat freshman Elianna Kantar was beaten by Mimi Nguyen to complete the sweep.

"We need to get healthy and I'm hopeful that that begins to happen tomorrow," said Thomson. "Tomorrow is a new day, so I'm hoping we can be healthy the rest of the way out."

The Gophers will host No. 60 Michigan State tomorrow at 11 a.m. before hitting the road for four straight Big Ten games away from home.

No. 8 Michigan 7, Minnesota 0
April 2, 2011

Baseline Tennis Center · Minneapolis, Minn.

Singles Competition
1. No. 7 Denise Muresan (MICH) def. No. 56 Natallia Pintusava (MINN) 6-2, 6-1
2. No. 73 Brooke Bolender (MICH) def. Alessandra Ferrazzi (MINN) 6-1, 6-4
3. No. 98 Whitney Taney (MICH) def. Doron Muravnik (MINN) 6-4, 6-0
4. No. 69 Sam Critser (MICH) def. Peta Forsyth (MINN) 6-2, 6-0
5. Rika Tatsuno (MICH) def. Mariana Spilca (MINN) 6-0, 6-3
6. Michelle Sulahian (MICH) def. Elianna Kantar (MINN) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles Competition
1. No. 8 Denise Muresan/Brooke Bolender (MICH) def. Mariana Spilca/Alessandra Ferrazzi (MINN) 8-2
2. Whitney Taney/Rika Tatsuno (MICH) def. Natallia Pintusava/Doron Muravnik (MINN) 8-4
3. Sam Critser/Michelle Sulahian (MICH) def. Elianna Kantar/Peta Forsyth (MINN) 8-2

Match Notes


Michigan 14-3 (4-0 Big Ten); National ranking No. 8


Minnesota 4-11 (0-3 Big Ten)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,1,5,3,2,6)