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Syracuse	71
Virginia Tech	69
Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The 30^th-ranked Virginia Tech women’s tennis team fell to Syracuse 5-2 on the road on Sunday in both of the teams’ final regular season match of the year. The Hokies end the season at 14-9 overall and 7-7 the ACC while the Orange finish at 13-7 overall and 7-7 in the conference.

Caroline Daxhelet and Raluca Mita had little trouble with Syracuse’s Nicole Mitchell and Maria Tritou on court 2 in doubles play, winning 6-1 and turning in the afternoon’s first results to give Tech a little bit of momentum right off the bat.

It was a different story on court 1 as the Orange’s 29^th-ranked duo of Gabriela Knutson and Valeria Salazar knocked off Francesca Fusinato and Kelly Williford 6-4 to force a point-deciding match on court 3. There, Anna Shkudun and Dina Hegab took down Elena Cerezo-Codina and Sansitha Nandakumar 6-2 to put Syracuse up 1-0 heading into singles play.

Mita tied the score at 1 to begin singles play, defeating Libi Mesh 6-3, 6-4 for her seventh straight singles victory dating back to last month. Mita is now 15-4 in singles play on the season, the second-highest total on the team behind Daxhelet’s 16 victories.

Williford followed suit in the 4 spot with a 6-2, 7-5 triumph over Tritou to give Tech a 2-1 lead, which ended up being the Hokies’ final point on the day. Katherine Butler was ousted 6-3, 6-3 on court 6 by Hegab to tie the score at 2 before Salazar helped Syracuse regain the lead with a 7-5, 6-2 win over No. 95 Cerezo-Codina over on 2.

No. 98 Knutson outlasted Daxhelet in 3 sets on court 3 by a count of 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to make it 4-2 and officially clinch the win for the Orange. No. 45 Fusinato then fell to No. 76 Shkudun on court 1 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 to wrap up the afternoon and make the final score 5-2 in favor of Syracuse.

The ACC Championship in Cary, N.C. is next up for the Hokies with their first match falling on Thursday against an undetermined opponent. Stay tuned to hokiesports.com and follow us on Twitter for updates throughout Tech’s time in Cary.

Singles competition

1. #76 Anna Shkudun (SU) def. #45 Francesca Fusinato (VT) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3

2. Valeria Salazar (SU) def. #95 Elena Cerezo-Codina (VT) 7-5, 6-2

3. #98 Gabriela Knutson (SU) def. Caroline Daxhelet (VT) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

4. Kelly Williford (VT) def. Maria Tritou (SU) 6-2, 7-5

5. Raluca Mita (VT) def. Libi Mesh (SU) 6-3, 6-4

6. Dina Hegab (SU) def. Katherine Butler (VT) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. #29 Gabriela Knutson/Valeria Salazar (SU) def. Francesca Fusinato/Kelly Williford (VT) 6-4

2. Caroline Daxhelet/Raluca Mita (VT) def. Nicole Mitchell/Maria Tritou (SU) 6-1

3. Anna Shkudun/Dina Hegab (SU) def. Elena Cerezo-Codina/Sansitha Nandakumar (VT) 6-2

For updates on Virginia Tech women's tennis, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_WTennis