Syracuse University
Maryland
'Cuse Tripped Up At Maryland
4/6/2014 8:34:00 PM | Tennis
Results
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Nationally-ranked No. 61 Syracuse tennis closed out its weekend with a 4-3 setback at Maryland in an Atlantic Coast Conference match on Sunday, April 6.
With the score knotted at 3-3, the match came down to the finish on court five between freshman Maria Avgerinos and Maryland's' Olga Bredikhina. Avgerinos won the first set in a tiebreaker 7-6 (10-8) and dropped the second 3-6 to set up the late-match dramatics. She trailed early in the third frame 3-1 and battled back to pull within 4-3, but couldn't get any closer as Bredikhina held on to win 6-3 and clinch the match.
The loss was Syracuse's (4-11, 4-6 ACC) first against a non-ranked opponent this season. Since picking up its first win of the season, SU is 4-4 and has traded wins and losses in each outing.
Junior Komal Safdar and freshmen Rhiann Newborn and Valeria Salazar all posted their second straight singles victories in the loss.
After SU dropped the doubles point and the first score in singles on court one, the Syracuse trio of Newborn, Salazar and Safdar all recorded their wins in order on courts three, four and six, respectively to jump ahead 3-2 in the match.
Safdar posted a 4-6. 6-2, 6-2 victory for her third win in the last four times out. She has also won four-of-five overall, including doubles action, in the last three contests. Newborn and Salazar both notched identical set scores in their respective wins with Newborn cruising to a 6-3, 6-3 win while Salazar claimed a tight triumph 7-5, 7-5.
The Orange looked to be in control of its own destiny with Avgerinos and junior Amanda Rodgers in good shape against their opponents heading into a final set. Rodgers, however, faltered down the stretch and lost in the third 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 1-6 and Avgerinos couldn't overcome a tiebreaking deficit either.
Syracuse continues is road swing with two more matches next weekend away from home. SU will start by traveling to No. 15 Clemson on Friday, April 11 at 2:30 p.m. followed by a date at No. 27 Georgia Tech on Sunday, April 13 at 11 a.m.
