Salazar and Safdar Sweep Matches at Houston Invite
11/3/2014 1:37:00 PM | Tennis
Orange continue fall season in Houston
The Orange had another successful tournament at the Jason's Deli Houston Invitational last weekend behind the play of Komal Safdar and Valeria Salazar who both went undefeated and earned flight championships.
"We were very pleased on how the ladies competed during this tournament," said head coach Younes Limam. "We have grown as a team, got more experience, and learned from all the matches that we played. Finding a way to win when you are not playing your best is key to success, Komal and Valeria were a perfect example of that this weekend"
Salazar didn't drop a set all weekend as she defeated Ksenia Pronina of Iowa State (6-1, 7-6 (4)) on Friday, Zita Engbroks of Oklahoma (6-2,6-2) on Saturday and swept the weekend with her 7-5, 6-4 win over SMU's Dasha Sharapova on Sunday.
Safdar got her weekend started by grinding out a three-set comeback win over Iowa State's Alejandra Galvis (6-7, 7-6 (4), 11-9) before getting wins in an easier fashion on Saturday and Sunday. Safdar earned the win by defeating Oklahoma's Emma Devine (7-5, 6-3) and SMU's Mary Wright (6-2, 6-4).
Freshman Nicole Mitchell continued her strong showing this fall by going 2-1 on the weekend. Mitchell earned a three-set win over Iowa State's Ana Gasparovic (6-1, 5-7, 10-8) and also defeated Ann Pepper of Oklahoma (6-3, 6-2) before falling to Anna Kate Anderson from SMU (6-1, 6-2) in her final match of the weekend.
Rhiann Newborn and Amanda Rodgers also earned one singles win a piece in Houston, with Newborn taking down Malene Stripp of Oklahoma (6-1, 6-3) and Rodgers winning her opening match against Sami Budai from Iowa State (6-2, 3-6, 10-2).
The Orange also played three doubles matches per day, going a combined 5-4 in the tournament.
Newborn and Safdar earned the Orange's lone win in three matches with the Cyclones on Friday, taking an 8-1 victory over Gasparovic and Meghan Cassens.
Syracuse earned wins from Olivia Messineo and Mitchell (8-5 over Pepper and Brooke Withrow of Oklahoma) and Salazar and Rodgers defeating Chumney and Stripp of the Sooners 8-1.
'Cuse would go on to win a pair of doubles matches on each of the following two days, with Rodgers and Safdar teaming up to defeat Wright and Ekeeva of SMU 8-4, with Messineo and Mitchell defeating Anderson and Macie Elliot from the Mustangs 8-6 on the final day of doubles.
"We were very pleased on how the ladies competed during this tournament," said head coach Younes Limam. "We have grown as a team, got more experience, and learned from all the matches that we played. Finding a way to win when you are not playing your best is key to success, Komal and Valeria were a perfect example of that this weekend"
Salazar didn't drop a set all weekend as she defeated Ksenia Pronina of Iowa State (6-1, 7-6 (4)) on Friday, Zita Engbroks of Oklahoma (6-2,6-2) on Saturday and swept the weekend with her 7-5, 6-4 win over SMU's Dasha Sharapova on Sunday.
Safdar got her weekend started by grinding out a three-set comeback win over Iowa State's Alejandra Galvis (6-7, 7-6 (4), 11-9) before getting wins in an easier fashion on Saturday and Sunday. Safdar earned the win by defeating Oklahoma's Emma Devine (7-5, 6-3) and SMU's Mary Wright (6-2, 6-4).
Freshman Nicole Mitchell continued her strong showing this fall by going 2-1 on the weekend. Mitchell earned a three-set win over Iowa State's Ana Gasparovic (6-1, 5-7, 10-8) and also defeated Ann Pepper of Oklahoma (6-3, 6-2) before falling to Anna Kate Anderson from SMU (6-1, 6-2) in her final match of the weekend.
Rhiann Newborn and Amanda Rodgers also earned one singles win a piece in Houston, with Newborn taking down Malene Stripp of Oklahoma (6-1, 6-3) and Rodgers winning her opening match against Sami Budai from Iowa State (6-2, 3-6, 10-2).
The Orange also played three doubles matches per day, going a combined 5-4 in the tournament.
Newborn and Safdar earned the Orange's lone win in three matches with the Cyclones on Friday, taking an 8-1 victory over Gasparovic and Meghan Cassens.
Syracuse earned wins from Olivia Messineo and Mitchell (8-5 over Pepper and Brooke Withrow of Oklahoma) and Salazar and Rodgers defeating Chumney and Stripp of the Sooners 8-1.
'Cuse would go on to win a pair of doubles matches on each of the following two days, with Rodgers and Safdar teaming up to defeat Wright and Ekeeva of SMU 8-4, with Messineo and Mitchell defeating Anderson and Macie Elliot from the Mustangs 8-6 on the final day of doubles.
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