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University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Gophers Head to Dekalb for Doubleheader
1/30/2026 1:13:00 PM | Tennis
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota tennis team begins a four-match road stretch this weekend, heading to DeKalb, Ill., for a doubleheader against Western Michigan and Northern Illinois.
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The Gophers (2-0) will face the Broncos (3-1) at 9 a.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 31, followed by a matchup with the Huskies (4-1) at 6 p.m. CT.
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Scouting Western Michigan
Minnesota and Western Michigan have met six times since 1993, with the Gophers holding a 5-1 series advantage. The Broncos earned a 5-2 win in the most recent meeting in 2008. Minnesota and Western Michigan both competed at the 2025 Milwaukee Tennis Classic, where the teams faced each other three times in singles play, with the Gophers going 3-0. Senior Audrey Smitek was named the Mid-American Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Jan. 26 after her performances against Illinois State and Grand Valley State.
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Scouting Northern Illinois
Minnesota and Northern Illinois have met twice in program history, with the Gophers holding a 2-0 series advantage. The Huskies have won four straight matches after dropping their season opener to Wisconsin. Northern Illinois set a school record with 22 wins last season, captured the MAC West title and advanced to the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). They return seven players from last year's team and are led by Theodora Kousiou, who was recently named MAC Singles Player of the Week on Jan. 26.Â
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The Season So Far
The Gophers opened the season at Baseline Tennis Center on Jan. 23 with a doubleheader against Iowa State and North Dakota. Minnesota earned wins in both matches, defeating Iowa State 5-2 and North Dakota 6-1.
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Schmitz's Success
Senior Aiva Schmitz was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Jan. 28 after going 2-0 in singles and 1-1 in doubles against Iowa State and North Dakota. She earned a ranked win over No. 45 Iowa State's Maria De La Paz Alberto in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, and defeated Ethel Li 6-0, 6-4 at No. 1 singles against North Dakota. Schmitz and Nora Knezevic also won at No. 3 doubles, helping Minnesota secure a 6-1 overall win.
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Amazing Ante
Junior Jeselle Ante was named to the 2026 Big Ten Women's Tennis Players to Watch list, the conference announced Jan. 5. She opened the season strong, going 2-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles, including a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 win over No. 2 singles Ashlee Narker clinching the match against Iowa State.
Racking up Ranked Wins
The Maroon and Gold earned three ranked wins against Iowa State. At No. 1 doubles, Jeselle Ante and Sofia Pinto defeated No. 34 Maria De La Paz Alberto and Stanislava Shulzhenko, 6-3. In singles, Aiva Schmitz defeated No. 45 Maria De La Paz Alberto, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, while Mia Liepert beat No. 124 Stanislava Shulzhenko, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.
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How to Follow
Fans can follow each match on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
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Fans can also follow the live scoring and live stream for the Iowa State match.
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Next On The Docket
The Gophers will travel west for matches against Wyoming on Feb. 7 and Colorado State on Feb. 8.
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The Gophers (2-0) will face the Broncos (3-1) at 9 a.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 31, followed by a matchup with the Huskies (4-1) at 6 p.m. CT.
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Scouting Western Michigan
Minnesota and Western Michigan have met six times since 1993, with the Gophers holding a 5-1 series advantage. The Broncos earned a 5-2 win in the most recent meeting in 2008. Minnesota and Western Michigan both competed at the 2025 Milwaukee Tennis Classic, where the teams faced each other three times in singles play, with the Gophers going 3-0. Senior Audrey Smitek was named the Mid-American Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Jan. 26 after her performances against Illinois State and Grand Valley State.
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Scouting Northern Illinois
Minnesota and Northern Illinois have met twice in program history, with the Gophers holding a 2-0 series advantage. The Huskies have won four straight matches after dropping their season opener to Wisconsin. Northern Illinois set a school record with 22 wins last season, captured the MAC West title and advanced to the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). They return seven players from last year's team and are led by Theodora Kousiou, who was recently named MAC Singles Player of the Week on Jan. 26.Â
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The Season So Far
The Gophers opened the season at Baseline Tennis Center on Jan. 23 with a doubleheader against Iowa State and North Dakota. Minnesota earned wins in both matches, defeating Iowa State 5-2 and North Dakota 6-1.
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Schmitz's Success
Senior Aiva Schmitz was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Jan. 28 after going 2-0 in singles and 1-1 in doubles against Iowa State and North Dakota. She earned a ranked win over No. 45 Iowa State's Maria De La Paz Alberto in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, and defeated Ethel Li 6-0, 6-4 at No. 1 singles against North Dakota. Schmitz and Nora Knezevic also won at No. 3 doubles, helping Minnesota secure a 6-1 overall win.
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Amazing Ante
Junior Jeselle Ante was named to the 2026 Big Ten Women's Tennis Players to Watch list, the conference announced Jan. 5. She opened the season strong, going 2-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles, including a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 win over No. 2 singles Ashlee Narker clinching the match against Iowa State.
Racking up Ranked Wins
The Maroon and Gold earned three ranked wins against Iowa State. At No. 1 doubles, Jeselle Ante and Sofia Pinto defeated No. 34 Maria De La Paz Alberto and Stanislava Shulzhenko, 6-3. In singles, Aiva Schmitz defeated No. 45 Maria De La Paz Alberto, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, while Mia Liepert beat No. 124 Stanislava Shulzhenko, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.
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How to Follow
Fans can follow each match on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
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Fans can also follow the live scoring and live stream for the Iowa State match.
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Next On The Docket
The Gophers will travel west for matches against Wyoming on Feb. 7 and Colorado State on Feb. 8.
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