April 27, 2007

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn - In the most dramatic match of the Championship thus far, Indiana edged host school Minnesota 4-2 to end the second day of quarterfinal action. 

The doubles point had to be decided by three matches, but that didn't mean much as Indiana's No. 2 and No. 3 had no problem notching 8-2 and 8-1 victories, respectively. All three of IU's doubles teams litter the Big Ten leader boards, including Sigrid Fischer and Cecile Perton who eventually clinched the early doubles point over Ida Malmberg and Danielle Mousseau at No. 2. Minnesota stayed in the hunt when Lindsay Risebrough and Ashley Schellhas manned a victory over #60 Alba Berdala and Laura McGaffigan, 8-6, in the second completed game.

Indiana was up to a quick 3-0 lead on the Gophers when No. 6 Lindsey Stuckey (6-3, 6-1) and No. 5 Perton (6-4, 6-2) cruised to early victories in their respective singles matches. However, it took a little bit longer for their Hoosier teammates to seal the deal.

The Gophers got help from All-Big Ten selection Schellhas at No. 1 when she overpowered Berdala in straight sets (6-1, 6-4). Teammate Tijana Koprivica followed suit in the No. 2 position with a comeback 6-3 third set to cut the Hoosier lead to 3-2.

Fans rushed across the street to surround the No. 3 and No. 4 matches where both were in their third sets. At No. 4, Brianna Williams was up 5-2 on Risebrough in the final set but before she could close, Fischer defeated Malmberg 6-4 on the near court to clinch the final point for Indiana. Malmberg had won the first set 6-4, before Fischer came back to win the final two sets (4-6, 6-3, 6-4). 

With the win, #2 Indiana improves to 20-5 and advances to face #3 Michigan in the second semi-final match on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT.