Syracuse Wins 10th Straight Home Opener

Friday, February 28

Syracuse, N.Y.

2 pm

Syracuse University

Virginia Tech

2/28/2014 7:49:00 PM | Tennis

Orange Collects First Win Of Season And First In ACC

Box Score | Photo Gallery

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse tennis team defeated #48 Virginia Tech, 5-2 on Friday, Feb. 28 in its home opener to record the first win of the season. Syracuse collected wins in two of three doubles matches and four of six singles matches.

"It has been our goal to win a doubles point all season. You get so much momentum going in to the singles with a doubles win and it was great to do that in our first match at home," said interim head coach Shelley George. "I kept telling the girls don't look at our record, look at how we are playing. I think we needed to come home and play in front of our fans and play where we feel comfortable."

For the 10th straight season, the SU (1-7, 1-2 ACC) tennis team won its home opener. The last loss in a home opener came back in 2004. The win over the Hokies (8-4, 1-2 ACC) also marked the Orange's first as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Syracuse lost the first doubles match that went final, but stormed back to win the next two and take the first point on the afternoon. Freshman Rhiann Newborn and junior Komal Safdar beat Tea Ivanovic and Sansitha Nandakumar on court three, 8-6, to even the score. It all came down to senior Maddie Kobelt and freshman Valeria Salazar, who overcame Francesca Fusinato and Raluca Mita in a tiebreaker, 8-7 (9-7). With the win, the No. 1 SU duo stays unbeaten in three ACC matches this season.

The Orange came out strong in singles play, taking a 2-0 lead in the match following a Kobelt 6-4, 6-3 triumph at first singles over nationally-ranked No. 103 Fusinato. It was Kobelt's second win in her career against a nationally ranked opponent. She improved to 3-0 this season in the ACC and has won her last five matches overall, including doubles.
Virginia Tech evened the score at 2-2 by winning the next two matchups in singles play. However, SU claimed victories in the final three singles games to come out on top for its first-ever ACC win.

On court two, junior Amanda Rodgers conquered Ilinca Stoica in two sets, 6-4, 7-5 for her first individual victory of the season. Newborn escaped with a win versus Kelly Williford in a close three-set match ending in a tie breaker, 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (12-10), to ensure a victory for the Orange. To close out the match, Safdar beat Nandakumar, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the sixth spot.

Syracuse is back in action Saturday, March 1 to face No. 3 Virginia at Drumlins. The first serve was originally set for 11 a.m., but due to travel issues the start time has been pushed back to 12 p.m.