Knutson Downs Ranked Opponent in #31 Orange's Loss at #4 Duke

Friday, April 12

Durham, NC

6 pm

Syracuse University

Duke

Knutson Downs Ranked Opponent in #31 Orange's Loss at #4 Duke

4/12/2019 9:30:00 PM | Tennis

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. – Senior Gabriela Knutson continued to cement herself as one of the top singles competitors in the country Friday night.

The 19th-ranked player in the nation defeated yet another nationally ranked opponent in the 31st-ranked Syracuse women's tennis team's 6-1 loss at No. 4 Duke. She defeated the Blue Devils' No. 13 Maria Mateas in three sets to record the Orange's lone point of the dual match.

Syracuse is 12-10 overall and 5-8 in Atlantic Coast Conference play following the loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The fourth-ranked Blue Devils took the doubles point before winning five straight singles matches, opening a 6-0 lead prior to Knutson's victory.

Syracuse, however, pulled out one doubles win thanks to Knutson and junior Miranda Ramirez. The Orange's 56th-ranked duo picked up its third victory over a nationally ranked pair this season by defeating Duke's No. 69 Kelly Chen and Ellyse Hamlin, 6-4.

In singles, Knutson went the distance with the Blue Devils' top-ranked player. After splitting the first two sets, the nationally ranked opponents played a decisive pro set.

Knutson held off Mateas, 10-8, in the final set to secure a 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 (10-8) victory and give the Orange their only point of the evening.

UP NEXT
The regular-season finale is on deck. The Orange face Clemson in the final match before the ACC Tournament begins.

First serve is set for 12 p.m. Sunday, April 14, in Clemson, South Carolina.

For complete coverage of Syracuse tennis, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Women's Tennis), Twitter (@Cuse_Tennis), Instagram (@CuseTennis).

RESULTS
#4 Duke 6, #31 Syracuse 1

Singles competition
1. #19 Gabriela Knutson (SU) def. #13 Maria Mateas (DU) 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 (10-8)
2. #18 Meible Chi (DU) def. Sofya Golubovskaya (SU) 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-8)
3. #32 Kelly Chen (DU) def. #100 Miranda Ramirez (SU) 6-4, 6-1
4. Ellyse Hamlin (DU) def. Guzal Yusupova (SU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Kaitlyn McCarthy (DU) def. Libi Mesh (SU) 6-0, 6-2
6. Margaryta Bilokin (DU) def. Dina Hegab (SU) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. #56 Gabriela Knutson/Miranda Ramirez (SU) def. #69 Kelly Chen/Ellyse Hamlin (DU) 6-4
2. #23 Meible Chi/Kaitlyn McCarthy (DU) def. #90 Sofya Golubovskaya/Sofya Treshcheva (SU) 6-3
3. Maria Mateas/Margaryta Bilokin (DU) def. Maria Tritou/Guzal Yusupova (SU) 6-4

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,3,6,4,2,1)