.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
Gophers Sweep Season-Opening Doubleheader
1/23/2026 5:55:00 PM | Tennis
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota tennis team hosted a doubleheader in its home opener Friday, defeating Iowa State 5‑2 and North Dakota 6‑1 at Baseline Tennis Center.
Minnesota finished the day 10-2 in singles and 4-2 in doubles.
Quote from Coach Arterberry
"Extremely happy with the way the team performed today in our season opener at home," head coach Lois Arterberry said. "We came out with high energy in singles. We dropped the doubles point against Iowa State, but it was very competitive, and we approached singles with the mindset that every court is going to fight. We're going to have high energy this season and compete hard—and that's exactly what they did today. Each court showed up, and I'm super proud of how we finished against such a strong team.
"We went into our second match confident and ready to compete. This is what we've been working for all season, and the time is here. Having four seniors on the team will play a huge role this year. Each of our girls has already played at this level, so the expectation is to keep rising and raising our level as the season goes on. I'm looking forward to getting back to work during the week and focusing on areas we can improve so we can convert that into success in our next matches at NIU and Western Michigan."
Minnesota vs. Iowa State
Iowa State claimed the doubles point by winning two of three matches. Minnesota struck first at No. 1, where Sofia Pinto and Jeselle Ante posted a 6-3 victory over Mari Paz Vilar and S. Shulzhenko. Iowa State answered at No. 3 as Suzanie Pretorius and Valeska San Martin defeated Aiva Schmitz and Nora Knezevic, 7-5, to even the doubles point. The Cyclones clinched doubles at No. 2, with Ashlee Narker and Julia Camblor earning a 7-5 win over Yinong Ma and Mia Liepert.
Minnesota won five of six singles matches against Iowa State. Iowa State struck first at No. 6, where Alicia Dale defeated Yinong Ma 6‑1, 6‑0. Minnesota responded with a win at No. 4 as Mia Liepert topped S. Shulzhenko 7‑6, 6‑4, followed by Sofia Pinto at No. 3, who defeated Julia Camblor 7‑6, 5‑7, 6‑2. Aiva Schmitz at No. 1 and Jeselle Ante at No. 2 added wins in three sets, while Anlin Xie closed singles play with a 7‑5, 4‑6, 6‑1 victory at No. 5. Minnesota won five of six singles matches to take the overall victory.
Results
Doubles
1. Sofia Pinto/Jeselle Ante (MINN) def. #34 Mari Paz Vilar/Stanislava Shulzhenko (ISU) 6-3.
2. Yinong Ma/Mia Liepert (MINN) lost to Ashlee Narker/Julia Camblor, (ISU) 7-5.
3. Suzanie Pretorius, / Valeska San Martin (ISU) def. Aiva Schmitz/Nora Knezevic (MINN) 7-5.
Singles
1. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) def. #45 Mari Paz Vilar (ISU) 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
2. Jeselle Ante (MINN) def. Ashlee Narker (ISU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.
3. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Julia Camblor, (ISU) 7-6, 5-7, 6-2.
4. Mia Liepert (MINN) def. #124 Stanislava Shulzhenko (ISU) 7-6, 6-4.
5. Anlin Xie (MINN) def. Pretorius, Suzanie (ISU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.
6. Yinong Ma (MINN) lost to Alicia Dale (ISU) def. 6-1, 6-0.
Order of Finish
Doubles: (1, 3, 2)
Singles: (6, 4, 3, 1, 2, 5)
Minnesota vs. North Dakota
Minnesota swept the doubles point, winning all three matches against North Dakota. The Gophers struck first at No. 3, where Aiva Schmitz and Nora Knezevic defeated Alyssa Giupponi and Simone Cameron, 6-1. Yinong Ma and Anlin Xie followed with a 6-0 victory over Alva Norberg and Linn Svaerd at the No. 2 position. Jeselle Ante and Sofia Pinto closed doubles play at No. 1 with a 6-3 win against Ethel Li and Jule Schulte.
Minnesota won five of six singles matches against North Dakota. Aiva Schmitz at No. 1 and Jeselle Ante at No. 2 opened with straight-set wins, and North Dakota's Alyssa Giupponi earned the lone point at No. 4. Anlin Xie at No. 5 and Yinong Ma at No. 6 also won, while Sofia Pinto at No. 3 closed singles play with a 6-1, 4-6, 10-8 victory.
Results
Doubles
1. Jeselle Ante/Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Ethel Li/Jule Schulte (UND) 6-3.
2. Yinong Ma/Anlin Xie (MINN) def. Alva Norberg/Linn Svaerd (UND) 6-0.
3. Aiva Schmitz/Nora Knezevic (MINN) def. Alyssa Giupponi/Simone Cameron (UND) 6-1.
Singles
1. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) def. Ethel Li (UND) 6-0, 6-4.
2. Jeselle Ante (MINN) def. Jule Schulte (UND) 6-2, 6-3.
3. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Alva Norberg (UND) 6-1, 4-6, 10-8.
4. Arina Valitova (MINN) lost to Alyssa Giupponi (UND) 6-0, 6-3.
5. Anlin Xie (MINN) def. Linn Svaerd (UND) 6-1, 6-2.
6. Yinong Ma (MINN) def. Simone Cameron (UND) 6-3, 6-1.
Order of Finish
Doubles: (3, 2, 1)
Singles: (1, 2, 5, 4, 6, 3)
Notables
Minnesota travels to Dekalb, Ill., to play a doubleheader versus Northern Illinois on and Western Michigan on Jan. 31.
Minnesota finished the day 10-2 in singles and 4-2 in doubles.
Quote from Coach Arterberry
"Extremely happy with the way the team performed today in our season opener at home," head coach Lois Arterberry said. "We came out with high energy in singles. We dropped the doubles point against Iowa State, but it was very competitive, and we approached singles with the mindset that every court is going to fight. We're going to have high energy this season and compete hard—and that's exactly what they did today. Each court showed up, and I'm super proud of how we finished against such a strong team.
"We went into our second match confident and ready to compete. This is what we've been working for all season, and the time is here. Having four seniors on the team will play a huge role this year. Each of our girls has already played at this level, so the expectation is to keep rising and raising our level as the season goes on. I'm looking forward to getting back to work during the week and focusing on areas we can improve so we can convert that into success in our next matches at NIU and Western Michigan."
Minnesota vs. Iowa State
Iowa State claimed the doubles point by winning two of three matches. Minnesota struck first at No. 1, where Sofia Pinto and Jeselle Ante posted a 6-3 victory over Mari Paz Vilar and S. Shulzhenko. Iowa State answered at No. 3 as Suzanie Pretorius and Valeska San Martin defeated Aiva Schmitz and Nora Knezevic, 7-5, to even the doubles point. The Cyclones clinched doubles at No. 2, with Ashlee Narker and Julia Camblor earning a 7-5 win over Yinong Ma and Mia Liepert.
Minnesota won five of six singles matches against Iowa State. Iowa State struck first at No. 6, where Alicia Dale defeated Yinong Ma 6‑1, 6‑0. Minnesota responded with a win at No. 4 as Mia Liepert topped S. Shulzhenko 7‑6, 6‑4, followed by Sofia Pinto at No. 3, who defeated Julia Camblor 7‑6, 5‑7, 6‑2. Aiva Schmitz at No. 1 and Jeselle Ante at No. 2 added wins in three sets, while Anlin Xie closed singles play with a 7‑5, 4‑6, 6‑1 victory at No. 5. Minnesota won five of six singles matches to take the overall victory.
Results
Doubles
1. Sofia Pinto/Jeselle Ante (MINN) def. #34 Mari Paz Vilar/Stanislava Shulzhenko (ISU) 6-3.
2. Yinong Ma/Mia Liepert (MINN) lost to Ashlee Narker/Julia Camblor, (ISU) 7-5.
3. Suzanie Pretorius, / Valeska San Martin (ISU) def. Aiva Schmitz/Nora Knezevic (MINN) 7-5.
Singles
1. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) def. #45 Mari Paz Vilar (ISU) 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
2. Jeselle Ante (MINN) def. Ashlee Narker (ISU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.
3. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Julia Camblor, (ISU) 7-6, 5-7, 6-2.
4. Mia Liepert (MINN) def. #124 Stanislava Shulzhenko (ISU) 7-6, 6-4.
5. Anlin Xie (MINN) def. Pretorius, Suzanie (ISU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.
6. Yinong Ma (MINN) lost to Alicia Dale (ISU) def. 6-1, 6-0.
Order of Finish
Doubles: (1, 3, 2)
Singles: (6, 4, 3, 1, 2, 5)
Minnesota vs. North Dakota
Minnesota swept the doubles point, winning all three matches against North Dakota. The Gophers struck first at No. 3, where Aiva Schmitz and Nora Knezevic defeated Alyssa Giupponi and Simone Cameron, 6-1. Yinong Ma and Anlin Xie followed with a 6-0 victory over Alva Norberg and Linn Svaerd at the No. 2 position. Jeselle Ante and Sofia Pinto closed doubles play at No. 1 with a 6-3 win against Ethel Li and Jule Schulte.
Minnesota won five of six singles matches against North Dakota. Aiva Schmitz at No. 1 and Jeselle Ante at No. 2 opened with straight-set wins, and North Dakota's Alyssa Giupponi earned the lone point at No. 4. Anlin Xie at No. 5 and Yinong Ma at No. 6 also won, while Sofia Pinto at No. 3 closed singles play with a 6-1, 4-6, 10-8 victory.
Results
Doubles
1. Jeselle Ante/Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Ethel Li/Jule Schulte (UND) 6-3.
2. Yinong Ma/Anlin Xie (MINN) def. Alva Norberg/Linn Svaerd (UND) 6-0.
3. Aiva Schmitz/Nora Knezevic (MINN) def. Alyssa Giupponi/Simone Cameron (UND) 6-1.
Singles
1. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) def. Ethel Li (UND) 6-0, 6-4.
2. Jeselle Ante (MINN) def. Jule Schulte (UND) 6-2, 6-3.
3. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Alva Norberg (UND) 6-1, 4-6, 10-8.
4. Arina Valitova (MINN) lost to Alyssa Giupponi (UND) 6-0, 6-3.
5. Anlin Xie (MINN) def. Linn Svaerd (UND) 6-1, 6-2.
6. Yinong Ma (MINN) def. Simone Cameron (UND) 6-3, 6-1.
Order of Finish
Doubles: (3, 2, 1)
Singles: (1, 2, 5, 4, 6, 3)
Notables
- Minnesota improves to 36-3 all-time versus Iowa State with today's win.
- The Gophers have defeated Iowa State in 35 straight matchups dating back to 1976.
- Mia Liepert notched her 40th career victory today, after defeating Stanislava Shulzhenko (Iowa State) 7(7)-6(4), 6-4.
- With the win over Iowa State, Minnesota is now 3‑0 in home openers under coach Lois Arterberry.
- The Gophers moved to 5-0 all-time against North Dakota, sweeping the Fighting Hawks in back-to-back seasons.
- Sofia Pinto has won five straight matches dating back to the fall season.
Minnesota travels to Dekalb, Ill., to play a doubleheader versus Northern Illinois on and Western Michigan on Jan. 31.
Cinematic Recap: Gopher Invite
Tuesday, September 30
Behind the Scenes: Media Day
Thursday, September 18
First Practice of 2025
Tuesday, September 09
Cinematic: Gophers-Maryland
Tuesday, April 01