Syracuse Tops VCU, Remains Perfect in 2020

Monday, January 20

Richmond, VA

Noon

Syracuse University

VCU

1/20/2020 3:46:00 PM | Tennis

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. - Syracuse claimed its second consecutive victory Monday afternoon with a 5-2 victory over VCU in Richmond, Va. Syracuse is 2-0 to start the season for the third consecutive year. The Orange's victory over the Rams came largely due to a strong performance by Kim Hansen, and was secured by Miranda Ramirez. Hansen, alongside Sofya Treshcheva, helped claim the doubles point before sweeping her singles opponent in two sets. Ramirez' singles victory secured the day for the Orange.

"It was great to finally get to compete this weekend after a good first week of practice," head coach Younes Limam said. "The team did a great job against Richmond handling the nerves of the first match of the season, and today against VCU the ladies showed a lot of grit and composure. We are looking forward to improving on a few things from this weekend when we play our first home match of the season on Sunday."

HOW IT HAPPENED
Syracuse started the day by winning the doubles point. Sofya Golubovskaya and Zeynep Erman once again paired up, but the duo lost, 6-1, in the No. 3 slot to Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado/Noumea Witmus. No. 48 Sofya Treshcheva/Kim Hansen followed with a 6-1 victory at No. 1 over Gabriela Ana-Maria Davidescu/Luminita Tutunaru, and the doubles point was secured with a close 7-6 (3) victory in No. 2 by Miranda Ramirez/Guzal Yusupova, the Orange pair taking down Melissa Ifidzhen/Kanako Yano.

Singles play went down to the wire with the Orange and Rams going match-for-match. No. 64 Yusupova kicked things off with 6-3, 6-1 loss to Diaz-Delgado at No. 1, but Hansen used a 6-3, 6-2 sweep at No. 4 to put Syracuse ahead 2-1. Polina Kozyreva then battled to a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 win at No. 5 to put 'Cuse up before Golubovskaya lost in the No. 3 slot to Davidescu by a score of 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to make things 3-2 'Cuse.

The day then came down to Ramirez and Erman. Playing at No. 2, Ramirez opened with a tiebreak win in her first set against Luminita Tutunaru before dropping the second, but she got back on track and secured the Orange victory with a final third-set victory to end 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-2. Erman won her first set against Noumea Witmus and had a 4-3 advantage in the second when Ramirez clinched the victory, giving Erman the victory.

UP NEXT
The Orange host Cornell this weekend for the home opener. 'Cuse takes on the Big Red Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Drumlins Country Club.

Admission to all Syracuse tennis home matches is free. For more information about Drumlins, click here. For complete coverage of Syracuse tennis, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse University Women's Tennis, Twitter (@Cuse_Tennis) and Instagram (@cusetennis).

DOUBLES:
1. Sofya Treshcheva/Kim Hansen (SU) def. Gabriela Ana-Maria Davidescu/Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) 6-1
2. Miranda Ramirez/Guzal Yusupova (SU) def. Melissa Ifidzhen/Kanako Yano (VCU) 7-6(3)
3. Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado/Noumea Witmus (VCU) def. Sofya Golubovskaya/Zeynep Erman (SU) 6-1
Order of Finish - 3, 1, 2

SINGLES:
1. Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado (VCU) vs. Guzal Yusupova (SU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Miranda Ramirez (SU) def. Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-2
3. Gabriela Ana-Maria Davidescu (VCU) vs. Sofya Golubovskaya (SU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Kim Hansen (SU) def. Kanako Yano (VCU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Polina Kozyreva def. Melissa Ifidzhen (VCU) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
6. Zeynep Erman (SU) def. Noumea Witmus (VCU) 6-3, 4-3 (ret.)
Order of Finish - 1, 4, 5, 3, 2