Fusinato, Novotna enter the Oracle/ITA National Rankings

Francesca Fusinato checks in at No. 93, while Natalie Novotna comes in at No. 99

March 8, 2017

BLACKSBURG – Senior Francesca Fusinato and freshman Natalie Novotna of the No. 50-ranked Virginia Tech women’s tennis team cracked the top-100 poll in this week’s Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Collegiate Tennis Women’s Division I National Rankings, released on Tuesday afternoon.

Fusinato enters the ITA top-100 poll for the second time this season at No. 93, boasting an 8-3 record at the No. 1 position thus far. The Feltre Belluno, Italy, native has won four of her last five matches, upsetting two ranked opponents in the process. Fusinato defeated then-No. 112 Borislava Botusharov of Old Dominion in a three-set battle on Feb. 25. She then bested Virginia’s Cassie Mercer, then-ranked No. 48 nationally, in another three-set tiebreaker on March 5. Of note, Fusinato has topped four ranked opponents at the No. 1 slot this season.

Additionally, Novotna checks into the ITA top-100 poll for the first time in her career at No. 99. The Vysoka nad Labem, Czech Republic, native holds a team-best 10-0 mark, primarily playing at the No. 3 position. Last weekend, Novotna was the lone Hokie to win a singles match vs. Georgia Tech on March 3, upsetting then-No. 71 Rasheeda McAdoo in a three-set tiebreaker. Novotna also shows one win at the No. 2 slot and three wins at the No. 4 slot this season.

In its last weekend of competition, Tech (7-4, 0-2 ACC) dropped back-to-back matches at then-No. 5 Georgia Tech and Virginia, respectively, to open Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Hokies suffered a 6-1 setback at Georgia Tech on March 3 in Atlanta, followed by a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Virginia on March 5 in Charlottesville.

The Hokies return to the court on Sunday, March 12, for a rematch with Clemson. The match with the Tigers is set to begin at noon in Clemson, South Carolina.

Fans can follow all the action during each match of the 2017 season by following the squad on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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