Tech picks up first ACC win vs. Louisville

The Hokies improved their record to 8-9 on the year with a 5-2 victory over Louisville Sunday afternoon

April 2, 2017

BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women’s tennis team clinched its first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) win of the season, claiming a 4-2 decision vs. Louisville, Sunday afternoon, at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center in Blacksburg, Virginia.

With Sunday’s victory, the Hokies (8-9, 1-7 ACC) have now won the last four meetings over the Cardinals (13-7, 2-6 ACC).

“I am very happy for our team today,” said coach Terry Ann Zawacki-Woods. “Every conference match is so tough, so a win is always great and tough to come by. We have put in a lot of hard work, so it’s very rewarding to get the result. Pulling out a close one is always a positive to build off of for next week. We just need to keep believing in our games and in the process as we start to prepare for the next one.”

In doubles action, junior Elena Cerezo-Codina and freshman Natalie Novotna made quick work of their opponent at the No. 2 slot, defeating Louisville’s Elle Stokes and Ariana Rodriguez by a score of 6-2. However, Tech’s doubles tandem of senior Sansitha Nandakumar and freshman Luisa Uscocovich dropped a 6-2 match on court three to tie the doubles point at one apiece. Louisville ultimately clinched the doubles point, winning by a score of 6-4 at the No. 1 slot.

The Cardinals quickly went up 2-0 on the scoreboard, as Louisville’s Tiffany Huber picked up a straight-set win (6-4, 6-3) at the No. 5 slot. Tech then went to work, capturing four consecutive victories in singles play and clinching the fourth match point.

On court two, No. 97 Novotna bested Stokes in straight sets (6-3, 7-5), winning her 13th match of the season – a team-best mark. Of note, she currently boasts a 4-3 dual-match record at the No. 2 slot, a 6-0 record at the No. 3 slot and a 3-0 record at the No. 4 slot.

No. 108 Fusinato tied the the match at two-all, as she took down Louisville’s Aleksandra Mally with a 6-3, 6-3 victory on court one. Of note, the Feltre Belluno, Italy, native has won five of her last seven matches at the No. 1 slot, pushing her overall dual-match singles record to 12-5 on the year.

Cerezo-Codina entered a three-set battle with Louisville’s Marina Humberg on court three. She won the first set, but dropped the second. Cerezo-Codina then prevailed in the final set, claiming a 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Humberg.

With Tech holding a 3-2 lead, junior Katherine Butler answered the call for the Hokies and clinched the team’s fourth match point with a three-set win over Louisville’s Olivia Boesing on court six (5-7, 6-1, 7-5).

Looking ahead, the Hokies will take a swing through the Northeast next weekend for a pair of ACC matches. Tech will square off against Boston College on Friday, April 7, followed by a match against Pittsburgh on Sunday, April 9. The match against the Eagles will start at 5 p.m., while the contest against the Panthers will begin at 11 a.m.

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

Doubles Competition:

No. 1: Abbie Pahz/Mariana Humberg (LU) def. Caroline Daxhelet/Francesca Fusinato (Tech), 6-4

No. 2: Elena Cerezo-Codina/Natalie Novotna (Tech) def. Elle Stokes/Ariana Rodriguez (LU), 6-2

No. 3: Jessie Paul/Olivia Boesing (LU) def. Sansitha Nandakumar/Luisa Uscocovich (Tech), 6-2

Singles Competition:

No. 1: #108 Francesca Fusinato (Tech) def. Aleksandra Mally (LU), 6-3, 6-3

No. 2: #97 Natalie Novotna (Tech) def. Elle Stokes (LU), 6-3, 7-5

No. 3: Elena Cerezo-Codina (Tech) def. Mariana Humberg (LU), 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
No. 4: Caroline Daxhelet (Tech) vs. Abbie Pahz (LU), 7-6 (7-5), 6-5 unfinished

No. 5: Tiffany Huber (LU) def. Sansitha Nandakumar (Tech), 6-4, 6-3

No. 6: Katherine Butler (Tech) def. Olivia Boesing (LU), 5-7, 6-1, 7-5

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

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