Saturday, January 11
Tampa, FL
11 am
Syracuse University
3
at
4
USF
Freshman Valeria Salazar posted the first two wins of her collegiate career
SU Drops 4-3 Decision At USF
1/11/2014 7:58:00 PM | Tennis
Results | Results (.pdf)
Tampa, Fla. – Syracuse opened the 2014 season with a 4-3 setback to No. 59 South Florida on Saturday, Jan. 11 at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.
"The reality is our war has just begun. This is just one battle," said head coach Luke Jensen. "We have nothing but positive things to take away from this. Next time we get in this position, we will be better prepared to win."
The Orange (0-1) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match, taking the doubles point with wins at first and second position. Senior Maddie Kobelt and freshman Valeria Salazar teamed up for a 6-4 win at the first spot while the tandem of senior Aleah Marrow and freshman Rhiann Newborn came away with a 6-2 victory at second doubles.
Playing in their first collegiate matches, Salazar and Newborn picked up right where they left off in doubles action, each coming away with wins at fourth and fifth singles, respectively. Both players needed a super tiebreaker to claim their matches. Salazar won her first set convincingly en route to a 6-0, 3-6, (10-3) triumph. Newborn on the other hand had to battle back after dropping the first set to come away victorious 1-6, 6-2, (10-5).
With the match even at 3-3 and the last point up for grabs, Kobelt and Loreto Alonso-Martinez went down to the wire. Kobelt eventually dropped the decision in the super tiebreaker, 6-4, 3-6, (4-10). Last year, Kobelt defeated Alonso-Martinez for her first career win over a ranked opponent.
"Those are nail-biters, those are heartbreaks," said Jensen. "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. In this conference, with our schedule the way it is, we are going to be in those battles all the time."
Syracuse has never defeated the Bulls (1-0) in nine tries, but the 4-3 loss was the closest the Orange has come the doubles were awarded just one point.
"We can take a lot from this and build on it," said Jensen. "We have a great opportunity next weekend in Texas with a pair of nationally ranked teams."
The Orange travels to the state of Texas next weekend for a pair of matches. First up is No. 30 TCU on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. followed by a trip to No. 19 Baylor on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 1 p.m.
No. 59 USF 4, Syracuse 3
Doubles Results:
1. Maddie Kobelt/Valeria Salazar (SU) d. Kayla Rizzolo/Loreto Alonso (USF) 6-4
2. Aleah Marrow/Rhiann Newborn (SU) d. Olaya Garrido-Rivas/Fanny Fracassi (USF) 6-2
3. Vera Bessonova/Olga Martinez (USF) d. Amanda Rodgers/Maria Avgerinos (SU) 6-0
Singles Results:
1. Kayla Rizzolo (USF) d. Amanda Rodgers (SU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Loreto Alonso-Martinez (USF) d. Maddie Kobelt (SU) 4-6, 6-3, (10-4)
3. Fanny Fracassi (USF) d. Aleah Marrow (SU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Valeria Salazar (SU) d. Olaya Garrido-Rivas (USF) 6-0, 3-6, (10-3)
5. Rhiann Newborn (SU) d. Vera Bessonova (USF) 1-6, 6-2, (10-5)
6. Olga Martinez (USF) d. Maria Avgerinos (SU) 6-1, 6-3
Tampa, Fla. – Syracuse opened the 2014 season with a 4-3 setback to No. 59 South Florida on Saturday, Jan. 11 at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.
"The reality is our war has just begun. This is just one battle," said head coach Luke Jensen. "We have nothing but positive things to take away from this. Next time we get in this position, we will be better prepared to win."
The Orange (0-1) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match, taking the doubles point with wins at first and second position. Senior Maddie Kobelt and freshman Valeria Salazar teamed up for a 6-4 win at the first spot while the tandem of senior Aleah Marrow and freshman Rhiann Newborn came away with a 6-2 victory at second doubles.
Playing in their first collegiate matches, Salazar and Newborn picked up right where they left off in doubles action, each coming away with wins at fourth and fifth singles, respectively. Both players needed a super tiebreaker to claim their matches. Salazar won her first set convincingly en route to a 6-0, 3-6, (10-3) triumph. Newborn on the other hand had to battle back after dropping the first set to come away victorious 1-6, 6-2, (10-5).
With the match even at 3-3 and the last point up for grabs, Kobelt and Loreto Alonso-Martinez went down to the wire. Kobelt eventually dropped the decision in the super tiebreaker, 6-4, 3-6, (4-10). Last year, Kobelt defeated Alonso-Martinez for her first career win over a ranked opponent.
"Those are nail-biters, those are heartbreaks," said Jensen. "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. In this conference, with our schedule the way it is, we are going to be in those battles all the time."
Syracuse has never defeated the Bulls (1-0) in nine tries, but the 4-3 loss was the closest the Orange has come the doubles were awarded just one point.
"We can take a lot from this and build on it," said Jensen. "We have a great opportunity next weekend in Texas with a pair of nationally ranked teams."
The Orange travels to the state of Texas next weekend for a pair of matches. First up is No. 30 TCU on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. followed by a trip to No. 19 Baylor on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 1 p.m.
No. 59 USF 4, Syracuse 3
Doubles Results:
1. Maddie Kobelt/Valeria Salazar (SU) d. Kayla Rizzolo/Loreto Alonso (USF) 6-4
2. Aleah Marrow/Rhiann Newborn (SU) d. Olaya Garrido-Rivas/Fanny Fracassi (USF) 6-2
3. Vera Bessonova/Olga Martinez (USF) d. Amanda Rodgers/Maria Avgerinos (SU) 6-0
Singles Results:
1. Kayla Rizzolo (USF) d. Amanda Rodgers (SU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Loreto Alonso-Martinez (USF) d. Maddie Kobelt (SU) 4-6, 6-3, (10-4)
3. Fanny Fracassi (USF) d. Aleah Marrow (SU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Valeria Salazar (SU) d. Olaya Garrido-Rivas (USF) 6-0, 3-6, (10-3)
5. Rhiann Newborn (SU) d. Vera Bessonova (USF) 1-6, 6-2, (10-5)
6. Olga Martinez (USF) d. Maria Avgerinos (SU) 6-1, 6-3
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