Wake Forest University
Minnesota
Minnesota Rallies to Defeat Wake Forest 5-2
2/18/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 18, 2012
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest women's tennis team jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Minnesota, but the Golden Gophers rallied to win the remaining matches, positing a 5-2 victory over the Demon Deacons on Saturday at the Indoor Tennis Center.
The No. 75 Demon Deacons (0-3) started strong by winning the doubles point and then got a win from No. 81 Kayla Duncan at No. 2 singles to seize an early 2-0 lead. But the Gophers won the first set on all of the other courts, a number of them being close affairs, and then held on to close out the win.
Playing their first dual match in almost a month, the Deacons showed little signs of rust in doubles. Wake Forest's 44th-ranked team of Duncan and Kathryn Talbert easily downed Alexa Palen and Tereza Brichakova 8-2 at No. 1 doubles, and Ryann Cutillo and Rebecca Siegler closed out the point with an 8-4 victory over Julia Courter and Doron Muravnik at No. 2.
Duncan was the first off of the court in singles, knocking off Natallia Pintusava 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 2 position to extend the lead to 2-0. But the Golden Gophers won tight first sets at the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5 positions that shifted momentum to their favor.
Aria Lambert clinched the win for Minnesota at No. 6 singles, taking down Brigita Bercyte 6-2, 6-1.
The Demon Deacons will be back in action at home tomorrow when they host No. 39 South Florida at noon.
Minnesota 5, #75 Wake Forest 2
Singles
1. Alexa Palen (MINN) def. Ryann Cutillo (WF) 7-5, 6-0
2. #81 Kayla Duncan (WF) def. Natallia Pintusava (MINN) 6-3, 6-4
3. Yuliana Umanets (MINN) def. Kathryn Talbert (WF) 6-1, 5-7, 6-1
4. Julia Courter (MINN) def. Rebecca Siegler (WF) 7-6 (8-6), 6-4
5. Doron Muravnik (MINN) def. Karen Forman (WF) 7-5, 6-1
6. Aria Lambert (MINN) def. Brigita Bercyte (WF) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
1. #44 Kayla Duncan/Kathryn Talbert (WF) def. Alexa Palen/Tereza Brichacova (MINN) 8-2
2. Ryann Cutillo/Rebecca Siegler (WF) def. Julia Courter/Doron Muravnik (MINN) 8-4
3. Natallia Pintusava/Yuliana Umanets (MINN) def. Karen Forman/Brigita Bercyte (WF)
8-2
Match Notes:
Minnesota 4-1
Wake Forest 0-3; National ranking #75
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2*); Singles (2,1,5,3,6*,4)
Players Mentioned
