Orange conclude fall slate at Harvard Invite
11/10/2014 4:09:00 PM | Tennis
Safdar wins final two matches after dropping first
The Syracuse tennis team concluded its fall schedule at the Harvard Invitational last weekend, with Komal Safdar and Valeria Salazar advancing to the semifinals in the doubles bracket to lead the way for the Orange.
The 'Cuse duo defeated Ellen Jang-Milsten and Sylvia Li of Harvard in the second round after receiving a bye in the opening draw, before falling to the Crimson's Danielle Mirda and Annika Ringblom in the semifinal.
On the singles side, the Orange bounced back after being swept in the first round of the tournament Friday. Safdar won a pair of matches in the consolation rounds, with Salazar also winning her quarterfinal match.
"It was great to see the ladies bounce back after a tough first day. They came in on Saturday and played with a lot more energy and grit," said head coach Younes Limam. "From an overall perspective there were some improvements, and getting more matches is no doubt moving us in the direction of being prepared for our season."
After losing in the opening round of singles, Safdar managed to defeat Pittsburgh's Callie Frey 6-2, 7-6(3) and Amber Washington 6-4, 6-7 (3), 10-2.
Salazar, who fell to Pitt's Audrew Blakley in the opening draw 0-6, 6-2, 10-7, defeated Boston's Barbara Rodriguez 6-4, 6-3
Olivia Messineo and Nicole Mitchell, who also teamed up for doubles in the event, fell to 8-3 to Pitt's Lolade Ogungbesan and Amber Washington.
Mitchell would later be eliminated in a tight singles match with Molly Wickman, losing 6-7 (4), 6-4, 10-7.
Messineo lost to Mirda in straight sets 6-2, 6-1.
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The 'Cuse duo defeated Ellen Jang-Milsten and Sylvia Li of Harvard in the second round after receiving a bye in the opening draw, before falling to the Crimson's Danielle Mirda and Annika Ringblom in the semifinal.
On the singles side, the Orange bounced back after being swept in the first round of the tournament Friday. Safdar won a pair of matches in the consolation rounds, with Salazar also winning her quarterfinal match.
"It was great to see the ladies bounce back after a tough first day. They came in on Saturday and played with a lot more energy and grit," said head coach Younes Limam. "From an overall perspective there were some improvements, and getting more matches is no doubt moving us in the direction of being prepared for our season."
After losing in the opening round of singles, Safdar managed to defeat Pittsburgh's Callie Frey 6-2, 7-6(3) and Amber Washington 6-4, 6-7 (3), 10-2.
Salazar, who fell to Pitt's Audrew Blakley in the opening draw 0-6, 6-2, 10-7, defeated Boston's Barbara Rodriguez 6-4, 6-3
Olivia Messineo and Nicole Mitchell, who also teamed up for doubles in the event, fell to 8-3 to Pitt's Lolade Ogungbesan and Amber Washington.
Mitchell would later be eliminated in a tight singles match with Molly Wickman, losing 6-7 (4), 6-4, 10-7.
Messineo lost to Mirda in straight sets 6-2, 6-1.
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Players Mentioned
Syracuse Tennis - Court 5
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Syracuse Tennis
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