Three Hokies check in to the Oracle/ITA National Rankings

Francesca Fusinato and Natalie Novotna check in at No. 92 and No. 104, respectively, while the doubles tandem of Caroline Daxhelet and Fusinato come in at No. 55

April 4, 2017

BLACKSBURG – Senior Francesca Fusinato, junior Caroline Daxhelet and freshman Natalie Novotna of the Virginia Tech women’s tennis team rank inside this week’s Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Collegiate Tennis Women’s Division I National Rankings, released on Tuesday afternoon.

Fusinato moves up 16 spots to No. 92 in this week’s ITA top-125 poll. The Feltre Belluno, Italy, native has won five of her last seven matches at the No. 1 slot, upsetting three ranked opponents in the process. Of note, she has topped a total of six ranked opponents this season.

Novotna also checks in at No. 104 in this week’s ITA top-125 poll. The Vysoka nad Labem, Czech Republic, native holds a team-best 13-3 mark, primarily playing at the No. 2 position. Of note, Novotna boasts a 4-3 dual-match record on court two, a 6-0 record on court three and a 3-0 record on court four.

Both Fusinato and Novotna went 2-0 in singles play last weekend, helping Tech to its first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) win of the season vs. Louisville on April 2.

Additionally, Fusinato and Daxhelet enter the ITA doubles poll for the first time this season, checking in at No. 55. The Hokie duo boasts a 3-3 mark on the year, playing primarily at the No. 1 slot. Of note, Fusinato and Daxhelet were not ranked prior to this week’s poll. The doubles tandem have upset two top-35 opponents since March 12, most recently taking down Duke’s then-No. 26 Meible Chi and Kaitlyn McCarthy on March 26.

Last week, Tech rallied in singles action and knocked off Louisville, 4-2, at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center, notching its first ACC win of the season and snapping a seven-match losing streak. The Hokies actually trailed 2-0 before Novotna cut the lead to 2-1. Fuisnato and Elena Cerezo-Codina then won to give the Hokies the lead, and Tech’s Katherine Butler iced the win with a 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 victory at the No. 6 spot.

Looking ahead, the Hokies (8-9, 1-7 ACC) will take a swing through the Northeast this 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.

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