Tennis Comes Up Short In First ACC Weekend

Friday, February 21

Raleigh, NC

2:30 pm

Syracuse University

NC State

2/23/2014 6:48:00 PM | Tennis

SU Drops Close Match Against NC State (4-3) And Falls at #1 Duke (6-1)

NC State Box Score | Duke Box Score

The Syracuse women's tennis team fell short to nationally-ranked No. 46 NC State and top-ranked Duke in the teams' first league contests as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference this past weekend.

In its first-ever visit to Raleigh, Syracuse (0-7, 0-2 ACC) dropped a close match 4-3 on Friday, Feb. 21. On Sunday, Feb. 23, the Orange lost to the number –one ranked Blue Devils (9-1, 1-1) 6-1.

Despite claiming wins in three-of-six singles matches, the Orange was unable to take the match against the Wolfpack. Trailing 3-2, freshman Valeria Salazar jumped out to a 4-1 lead against her opponent, and was still up 5-3. But Nicole Martinez broke serve and fended off a pair of match points to claim the victory and the match for NC State.

Senior Maddie Kobelt and Salazar notched an 8-5 win at first doubles over Elisha Hande and Martinez. However, that would be the only victory SU had in doubles play as the point went to NC State.

In singles action, Kobelt ended Rachael James-Baker's five-match winning streak with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 victory at the number two court for her first individual win of the season. Freshman Rhiann Newborn claimed a close 6-7 (10-12), 6-4, 7-6 (7-0) win at the number four spot against Liza Fieldsend. After the outcome was already determined, junior Komel Safdar recorded the 6-3, 5-7, 6-0 win on court six.

On Sunday, Syracuse lost the doubles point to the Blue Devils, behind two nationally-ranked duos, to set the tone for the hosts. Duke won five-of-its six matches in straight sets with four coming by players ranked in the top-115 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Kobelt clinched the only singles point for the Orange with a 4-6, 7-5, 11-9, three set victory in her first match on court one this season.

Kobelt ended the weekend with a perfect 3-0 record and was tied in her only unfinished match of the two games which came in doubles action against Duke.

The Orange will return to Syracuse for its home opener as it takes on No. 47T Virginia Tech on Friday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. and No. 13 Virginia on Saturday, March 1 at 11 a.m.

No. 46 NC State 4, Syracuse 3
Doubles Results:
1. Maddie Kobelt/Valeria Salazar (SU) d. Elisha Hande/Nicole Martinez (ST) 8-5
2. Sophie Nelson/Joelle Kissell (ST) d. Amanda Rodgers/Komal Safdar (SU) 8-6
3. Liza Fieldsend/Rachael James-Baker (ST) d. Breanna Bachini /Rhiann Newborn (SU) 8-4

Singles Results:
1. Joelle Kissell (ST) d. Amanda Rodgers (SU) 6-4, 6-0
2. Maddie Kobelt (SU) d. Rachael James-Baker (ST) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
3. Nicole Martinez (ST) d. Valeria Salazar (SU) 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (5-7), 7-5
4. Rhiann Newborn (SU) d. Liza Fieldsend (ST) 6-7 (10-12), 6-4, 7-6 (7-0)
5. Elisha Hande (ST) d. Breanna Bachini (SU) 6-3, 6-1
6. Komal Safdar (SU) d. Sophie Nelson (ST) 6-3, 5-7, 6-0

No. 1 Duke 6, Syracuse 1
Doubles Results:
1. #6 Beatrice Capra/Hanna Mar (DU) vs. Maddie Kobelt/Valeria Salazar (SU) 6-6, unfinished
2. #16 Ester Goldfeld/Annie Mulholland (DU) d. Amanda Rodgers/Breanna Bachini (SU) 8-3
3. Alyssa Smith/Marianne Jodoin (DU) d. Komal Safdar/Rhiann Newborn (SU) 8-4

Singles Results:
1. Maddie Kobelt (SU) d. Chalena Scholl (DU) 4-6, 7-5, 11-9
2. #20 Ester Goldfeld (DU) d. Amanda Rodgers (SU) 6-4, 6-2
3. #42 Hanna Mar (DU) d. Rhiann Newborn (SU) 6-2, 6-1
4. #96 Alyssa Smith (DU) d. Valeria Salazar (SU) 7-6, 6-4
5. Annie Mulholland (DU) d. Breanna Bachini (SU) 6-1, 6-4
6. #115 Marianne Jodoin (DU) d. Komal Safdar (SU) 6-1, 6-4