Apr. 19, 2015
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#33 Minnesota 4, #27 Northwestern 3 Baseline Tennis Center · Minneapolis, Minn. |
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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- In its last regular season match, No. 27 Northwestern engaged in a rigorous battle against No. 33 Minnesota. No. 66 Sam Shropshire earned a marquee victory over No. 21 Leandro Toledo, but the Gophers ultimately emerged with the 4-3 win.
Northwestern wraps the season 19-8 overall and 8-3 in the Big Ten, putting them at fourth in the conference. Minnesota, which upset No. 3 Illinois 4-3 on Friday, finished 10-1 to claim a third of the Big Ten title with the Illini and No. 11 Ohio State.
The Gophers jumped to a 1-0 lead with two consecutive doubles wins on courts 2 and 3. No. 53 Shropshire and Alex Pasareanu were leading their 47th-ranked opponents at No. 1 when the point was decided.
In singles play, Shropshire earned his eighth straight victory with an upset victory over No. 21 Leandro Toledo: 6-1, 7-5 at No. 1. Toledo was the highest-ranked player in the Big Ten this week, and the triumph marked Shropshire's most significant win over a ranked opponent in his career.
Minnesota reclaimed the lead at No. 5, where Jack Hamburg defeated Fedor Baev 6-3, 2-6, 6-2. The Gophers then made it 3-1 when 94th-ranked Matic Spec beat Strong Kirchheimer 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2.
The Wildcats needed a rally, and they got one from courts 3 and 6. Konrad Zieba overcame a first set deficit to best Ruben Weber 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 3. Alp Horoz continued the momentum at No. 6, where he prevailed 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 over Mathieu Froment. It was Horoz's eight singles win in a row.
It all came down to Logan Staggs and Felix Corwin at No. 4. The final set pushed to a tiebreaker, but Corwin was able to win 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) and give the match to Minnesota.
The `Cats roll into post-season play this weekend at the Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Illinois. As the likely 4th seed, Northwestern will get a first round bye and play on Friday, Apr. 24.
#33 Minnesota 4, #27 Northwestern 3
Doubles Results
1. #53 Sam Shropshire/Alex Pasareanu (NU) vs. #47 Jack Hamburg/Mathieu Froment (MINN) 7-4 (unfinished)
2. Felix Corwin/Leandro Toledo (MINN) def. Fedor Baev/Strong Kirchheimer (NU) 8-5
3. Eric Frueh/Matic Spec (MINN) def. Alp Horoz/Mihir Kumar (NU) 8-2
Order of finish: 3, 2*
Singles Results
1. #66 Sam Shropshire (NU) def. #21 Leandro Toledo (MINN) 6-1, 7-5
2. #94 Matic Spec (MINN) def. Strong Kirchheimer (NU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Konrad Zieba (NU) def. Ruben Weber (MINN) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
4. Felix Corwin (MINN) def. Logan Staggs (NU) 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Jack Hamburg (MINN) def. Fedor Baev (NU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
6. Alp Horoz (NU) def. Mathieu Froment 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 5, 2, 3, 6, 4*
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