Syracuse Wraps Up Home Stand With #25 Florida State

MATCH-10: SYRACUSE ORANGE vs. NO. 25 FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
Friday, March 7 at 2 p.m. \| Drumlins Tennis Center
GAME COVERAGE:	Twitter: @Cuse \| @Cuse_Tennis \| Live Stats
SU LINKS:	Match Notes \| Roster \| Schedule \| Results
FSU LINKS:	Roster \| Schedule \| Results \| @FSU_WTennis

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse women's tennis team returns to the court on Friday, March 7 at 2 p.m. to take on nationally-ranked No. 25 Florida State at Drumlins Tennis Center.

LAST TIME OUT:
SU won its 10th straight home-opener against previously-ranked No. 48 Virginia Tech last Friday for the squad's first victory of the season and of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Orange lost the first doubles match, but battled back to win the next two to take the doubles point. In singles action, senior Maddie Kobelt set the tone when she conquered nationally-ranked No. 103 Francesca Fusinato in two sets. The Hokies went on to win the next two matchups and even the score. However, Syracuse won out as freshman Rhiann Newborn survived a third-set tiebreaker to clinch the match.

Against Virginia, Newborn notched the only win for the Orange on the third court against nationally-ranked No. 47 Rachel Pierson as the Orange fell to then-ranked No. 3 Virginia. Junior Amanda Rodgers and freshman Maria Avgerinos both made runs in singles play, dropping third -set super-tiebreakers after the Cavaliers had already earned the victory.

PROTECTING HOME COURT:
Since the arrival of interim head coach Shelly George in the 2006-07 season, the SU tennis team is 53-8 in the Drumlins Tennis Center, including a 48-5 mark since 2008. That span included back-to-back undefeated seasons in 2010 and 2011 and a 25-home win streak that went from Feb. 22, 2009 through Feb. 24, 2012.

KNOCKING OFF RANKED PLAYERS:
Senior Maddie Kobelt and freshman Rhiann Newborn gave the Orange its first wins of the season over nationally-ranked players in back-to-back matches against Virginia Tech and Virginia. Kobelt cruised to a 6-4, 6-3 triumph versus #103 Francesca Fusinato of Virginia Tech at first singles on Feb. 28. The following day, Newborn claimed a tight 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 win against Virginia's #47 Rachel Pierson.

KOBELT CHASING THE CENTURY CLUB:
Senior co-captain Maddie Kobelt won her first five matches overall in ACC play and needs just five more to reach 100 career triumphs and become the 30th member of the Century Club. Last season, Kobelt earned All-BIG EAST Team honors with a record of 15-9 in singles and 15-8 in doubles.

NEWBORN RACKING UP WINS:
Freshman Rhiann Newborn is off to a hot start since beginning league-play, posting a 3-1 record with her only loss coming to nationally-ranked No. 42 Hannah Mar of Duke. Her three wins includes a pair of third-set tie breakers while the third is a straight-set triumph over No. 47 Rachel Pierson. Since her match against Baylor, Newborn is 3-2 with two more matches going unfinished. In both of those incomplete games, Newborn held a late lead when the contest came to a close.

SCOUTING THE SEMINOLES:
The Seminoles split their matches last weekend, defeating then-No. 56 Boston College last weekend 6-1, while falling 5-2 to previously No. 19 Georgia Tech. Florida State (8-4) now sits at 3-1 in the ACC and has cracked the top-25, coming in at No. 25 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Juniors Kerrie Cartwright and Daneika Borthwick lead the 'Noles, combining to go 7-3 at first singles and 5-3 at second. The duo is also FSU's top doubles team with a 3-2 record on the first court.

SERIES HISTORY:
Florida State and Syracuse have played each other just once back in 1998. The Seminoles won that match 6-3 on a neutral court in Minneapolis, Minn.

UP NEXT:
The Orange will take two-week rest before hitting to road again with a match at No. 13 Miami on Friday, March 21 at 11 a.m.

Syracuse University Athletics

Syracuse Wraps Up Home Stand With #25 Florida State

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