University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, April 17
Minneapolis, MN
3:30 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Iowa
Players Mentioned
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Photo by: Kelly Lynn
Gophers Close Regular Season at Baseline This Weekend
4/16/2026 2:18:00 PM | Tennis
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota tennis team will host its final regular-season matches this weekend as it concludes its conference schedule.
The Golden Gophers will host No. 46 Iowa (10-12) at 3:30 p.m. CT Friday before facing No. 42 Nebraska (15-6) at noon CT Sunday at the Baseline Tennis Center.
The Season So Far
Minnesota opened the season with six straight wins, highlighted by a victory over Iowa State, before falling to Alabama and Colorado. The Gophers closed that weekend with a win over Drake and moved up to No. 53 in the rankings. Minnesota later dropped matches to Kansas and Kansas State, then swept a doubleheader against No. 49 Denver and St. Thomas. The Gophers have since lost eleven straight Big Ten matches, including seven following a 7-0 win over South Dakota on March 18.
Scouting Iowa
Minnesota and Iowa have met 72 times in program history, with Minnesota holding a 44-28 series lead. The most recent meeting was March 21, 2025, when Iowa won 4-0. The Hawkeyes are 4-7 in Big Ten play this season, with wins over Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue and Penn State. Iowa is led by No. 67 Mia Mack, who is 15-3 this season and has won seven of her last eight matches. The doubles duo of Mack and Daianne Hayashida is ranked No. 62.
Scouting Nebraska
Minnesota and Nebraska have met 30 times in program history, with the Gophers holding a 16-14 series lead. The last meeting was March 23, 2025, when Nebraska won 4-1. The Huskers have won seven of their last eight matches, six of which came against Big Ten opponents. Nebraska is led by freshman Katie Spencer, who is 11-3 at the No. 2 singles position and is ranked No. 39 in doubles with partner Conley Raidt.
Debut Doubles Success
In their first match as a doubles pair, Yinong Ma and Arina Valitova defeated No. 57 Ellie Blackford and Matilde Morias, 7-5, to clinch the doubles point for the Gophers against Michigan State on March 29. The duo rallied from a 3-0 deficit to secure the win.
Pinto Power
Senior Sofia Pinto earned her 75th career singles victory with a win over Hanna Tsitavets of Michigan State on Sunday, March 29. Pinto moved into 10th place on Minnesota's all-time singles wins list, surpassing Nancy Rost, Meg Horan, Anne Gorde and Lisa Martin.
Magnificent Mia
Mia Liepert is 11-6 in singles during the spring season, competing at the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 spots for the Gophers. She has won seven of her last nine matches, including a 6-4, 6-1 victory over No. 54 Mayu Crossley of UCLA on March 8. Liepert reached the 50-career win mark on March 18 with a 6-3, 2-6, 10-6 win over South Dakota's Selena Bird.
Gophers Go Outdoors
With the possibility of favorable weather Friday, the Gophers could play their match outdoors. The start time has been moved from 4 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Minnesota has not played an outdoor match at the Baseline Tennis Center since April 14, 2024, against Michigan. Whether the match will be played outside is still to be determined based on weather conditions.
Senior Day Sunday
Minnesota will honor seniors Anali Kocevar, Aiva Schmitz, Arina Valitova and Sofia Pinto following Sunday's match against Nebraska.
How to Follow
Fans can follow each match on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
The University of Minnesota is scheduled to livestream each match at this link. Fans can also follow the live scoring of each match.
Next On The Docket
The Big Ten Women's Tennis Tournament is scheduled for April 23–26, with the top 12 teams in the conference qualifying. Minnesota is currently ranked 18th in the standings.
The Golden Gophers will host No. 46 Iowa (10-12) at 3:30 p.m. CT Friday before facing No. 42 Nebraska (15-6) at noon CT Sunday at the Baseline Tennis Center.
The Season So Far
Minnesota opened the season with six straight wins, highlighted by a victory over Iowa State, before falling to Alabama and Colorado. The Gophers closed that weekend with a win over Drake and moved up to No. 53 in the rankings. Minnesota later dropped matches to Kansas and Kansas State, then swept a doubleheader against No. 49 Denver and St. Thomas. The Gophers have since lost eleven straight Big Ten matches, including seven following a 7-0 win over South Dakota on March 18.
Scouting Iowa
Minnesota and Iowa have met 72 times in program history, with Minnesota holding a 44-28 series lead. The most recent meeting was March 21, 2025, when Iowa won 4-0. The Hawkeyes are 4-7 in Big Ten play this season, with wins over Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue and Penn State. Iowa is led by No. 67 Mia Mack, who is 15-3 this season and has won seven of her last eight matches. The doubles duo of Mack and Daianne Hayashida is ranked No. 62.
Scouting Nebraska
Minnesota and Nebraska have met 30 times in program history, with the Gophers holding a 16-14 series lead. The last meeting was March 23, 2025, when Nebraska won 4-1. The Huskers have won seven of their last eight matches, six of which came against Big Ten opponents. Nebraska is led by freshman Katie Spencer, who is 11-3 at the No. 2 singles position and is ranked No. 39 in doubles with partner Conley Raidt.
Debut Doubles Success
In their first match as a doubles pair, Yinong Ma and Arina Valitova defeated No. 57 Ellie Blackford and Matilde Morias, 7-5, to clinch the doubles point for the Gophers against Michigan State on March 29. The duo rallied from a 3-0 deficit to secure the win.
Pinto Power
Senior Sofia Pinto earned her 75th career singles victory with a win over Hanna Tsitavets of Michigan State on Sunday, March 29. Pinto moved into 10th place on Minnesota's all-time singles wins list, surpassing Nancy Rost, Meg Horan, Anne Gorde and Lisa Martin.
Magnificent Mia
Mia Liepert is 11-6 in singles during the spring season, competing at the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 spots for the Gophers. She has won seven of her last nine matches, including a 6-4, 6-1 victory over No. 54 Mayu Crossley of UCLA on March 8. Liepert reached the 50-career win mark on March 18 with a 6-3, 2-6, 10-6 win over South Dakota's Selena Bird.
Gophers Go Outdoors
With the possibility of favorable weather Friday, the Gophers could play their match outdoors. The start time has been moved from 4 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Minnesota has not played an outdoor match at the Baseline Tennis Center since April 14, 2024, against Michigan. Whether the match will be played outside is still to be determined based on weather conditions.
Senior Day Sunday
Minnesota will honor seniors Anali Kocevar, Aiva Schmitz, Arina Valitova and Sofia Pinto following Sunday's match against Nebraska.
How to Follow
Fans can follow each match on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
The University of Minnesota is scheduled to livestream each match at this link. Fans can also follow the live scoring of each match.
Next On The Docket
The Big Ten Women's Tennis Tournament is scheduled for April 23–26, with the top 12 teams in the conference qualifying. Minnesota is currently ranked 18th in the standings.
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