SU Hosts Virginia Tech, #3 Virginia In Home Opener

MATCH-08: SYRACUSE ORANGE vs. NO. 48 VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES
Friday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. \| Drumlins Tennis Center
GAME COVERAGE:	Twitter: @Cuse \| @Cuse_Tennis \| Live Stats
SU LINKS:	Match Notes \| Roster \| Schedule \| 2014 Results
VT LINKS:	Roster \| Schedule \| 2014 Results \| @VT_WTennis

MATCH-09: SYRACUSE ORANGE vs. NO. 3 VIRGINIA CAVALIERS
Saturday, March 1 at 11 a.m. \| Drumlins Tennis Center
GAME COVERAGE:	Twitter: @Cuse \| @Cuse_Tennis \| Live Stats
SU LINKS:	Match Notes \| Roster \| Schedule \| 2014 Results
UVA LINKS:	Roster \| Schedule \| 2014 Results \| @UvaWomensTennis

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Tennis team returns home to host No. 48 Virginia Tech in its home-opener on Friday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m.. The following day the Orange will play No. 3 Virginia on at 11 a.m. Both matches will be held at Drumlins Tennis Center.

LAST TIME OUT:
The Orange (0-7, 0-2 ACC) kicked off its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule last weekend, falling short to previously-ranked No. 46 NC State 4-3, and No. 1 Duke 6-1. Senior Maddie Kobelt and Valeria Salazar notched the only doubles victory of the weekend with an 8-5 win against the Wolfpack. Kobelt led the squad with a perfect 3-0 record, and posted the only singles point for the Orange against Duke with a 4-6, 7-5, 11-9, victory in her first match on court one this season.

PROTECTING HOME COURT:
Since the arrival of interim head coach Shelly George in the 2006-07 season, the SU tennis team is 52-7 in the Drumlins Tennis Center, including a 47-4 mark since 2008. That span included back-to-back undefeated seasons in 2010 and 2011 and a 25 home-match win streak that went from Feb. 22, 2009 through Feb. 24, 2012.

WINNING WAYS IN HOME OPENERS:
Dating back to the 2004 spring season, the Orange has won its last nine home openers. The last time the team walked away with a loss in its first home contest was a 4-3 setback to Dartmouth on Jan. 31, 2004.

KOBELT CHASING THE CENTURY CLUB:
Senior co-captain Maddie Kobelt finished last week a perfect 3-0 and needs just six more wins to reach 100 career triumphs and become the 29th member of the Century Club. Last season, Kobelt earned All-BIG EAST Team honors with an overall record of 15-9 in singles and 15-8 in doubles.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION:
Virginia Tech: The Hokies fell to the No. 11 Clemson Tigers last weekend 6-1, but redeemed themselves after sweeping Radford in a non-conference match 5-0 Sunday evening. Virginia Tech improved to 8-3 (1-1 ACC) and is currently led by nationally ranked No. 103 Francesca Fusinato.

Virginia: After upsetting No. 1 Duke 5-2 last weekend, Virginia moved up the rankings from 13th to the No. 3 spot according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Sophomore Julia Elbaba is highest among the Cavaliers' nationally ranked singles players, along with Stephanie Nauta (42), Rachel Pierson (47), and Danielle Collins (58). Virginia also has Elbaba and Pierson ranked at the No. 7 spot in doubles.

SERIES HISTORY:
Virginia Tech leads the all-time series with a 4-2 record. The Hokies swept the Orange 7-0 in their last meeting in 2004 in the BIG EAST tournament when the two sqauds were conference foes. Syracuse's last win against Virginia Tech came in 1994.

Syracuse and Virginia have played each other six times, but not since 1992. The Cavaliers own a 5-1 advantage in the series.

UP NEXT:
The Orange is back in action on Friday, March 7 at 2 p.m., as it takes on No. 34 Florida State at Drumlins.

Syracuse University Athletics

SU Hosts Virginia Tech, #3 Virginia In Home Opener

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