Tech tops Syracuse, 4-3, in ACC action

With Thursday's win, Tech has won three of its last four matches in Atlantic Coast Conference play

April 13, 2017

BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women’s tennis team clinched a 4-3 victory over Syracuse Thursday afternoon at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center in Blacksburg, Virginia.

With Thursday’s victory, Tech (10-10, 3-8 ACC) has won three of its last four contests in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play, as the team secured the doubles point and three straight singles matches for the win over Syracuse (7-11, 4-7 ACC).

"It was a great team effort today," said coach Terry Ann Zawacki-Woods. "I thought we were really tough, mentally and physically, especially during critical moments in the match. It was great to see the team trusting themselves more and playing to take control when it was needed. I'm excited to see us continue this momentum on Saturday."

The Hokies trailed 1-0 in doubles scoring, as the No. 52-ranked doubles tandem of senior Francesca Fusinato and junior Caroline Daxhelet dropped a quick 6-1 decision on court one. However, senior Sansitha Nandakumar and freshman Shene Disbergen paired up for the first time this season and defeated Syracuse’s duo on court three (6-4) to tie the doubles point at one-all.

Then all eyes swiftly turned to court two, as junior Elena Cerezo-Codina and freshman Natalie Novotna entered a 7-6 tiebreaker. The Hokie duo went back-and-forth with Syracuse’s Nicole Mitchell and Maria Tritou for three consecutive points, but ultimately clinched the doubles point for the Hokies by a score of 7-6 (7-3). Of note, Cerezo-Codina and Novotna have won four straight doubles matches, boasting a 5-3 record at the No. 2 doubles slot.

Tech quickly went up 2-0 on the scoreboard, as Daxhelet picked up a straight-set win (6-1, 6-1) over Tritou at the No. 4 singles slot.

On court two, No. 95 Novotna cruised past Syracuse’s No. 80 Gabriela Knutson (6-4,6-2) and collected her 15th win of the season – a team-best mark. Of note, Novotna has won four of her last five matches in ACC action, totaling a 7-4 overall record in conference play.

With Tech holding a 3-0 edge over Syracuse, Cerezo-Codina captured the team’s fourth-match point with a straight-set win over Syracuse’s Anna Shkudun (6-0, 6-1). Cerezo-Codina only gave up one game in the two-set match, winning her fifth consecutive contest at the No. 3 singles position. She now boasts a 10-8 overall record on the year.

Up next, Tech will take on No. 25 N.C. State on Saturday, April 15. First serve against the Wolfpack is set for 3 p.m. Admission is free, and the first 50 fans at Saturday’s match will receive a free VT tennis chap stick. Also, don’t forget to pick up a loyalty card at the marketing table. With this year’s loyalty card, fans can check in to select tennis matches and earn a prize at the end of the season.

Tech and N.C. State (17-7, 6-5 ACC) will meet for the 26th time in program history, as the Wolfpack hold a 20-5 advantage over the Hokies. However, Tech picked up a 5-2 victory over N.C. State on March 27, 2016 at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

N.C. State comes to Blacksburg riding a seven-game winning streak. Most recently, the Wolfpack claimed a 5-2 road victory over Syracuse on April 7 at the Drumlins Tennis Club in Syracuse, New York.

Martina Frantova holds an 11-11 mark at the No. 1 slot this season and is the lone Wolfpack ranked inside the ITA singles poll at No. 66. Additionally, the doubles tandem of Frantova and Anna Rogers has gone undefeated in their last 12 matches and has accumulated an 18-1 overall record at the top doubles position this season, checking in at No. 14 nationally.

Looking ahead, Tech will play host to its final pair of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) matches next weekend, as the team welcomes No. 45 Miami on Friday, April 21 and No. 47 Florida State on Sunday, April 23. Friday’s contest is scheduled for 3 p.m., while Sunday’s match is set to begin at 11:30 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: Miranda Ramirez/Gabriela Knutson (SU) def. #52 Caroline Daxhelet/Francesca Fusinato (Tech), 6-1

No. 2: Elena Cerezo-Codina/Natalie Novotna (Tech) def. Anna Shkudun/Dina Hegab (SU), 7-6 (7-3)

No. 3: Sansitha Nandakumar/Shene Disbergen (Tech) def. Nicole Mitchell/Maria Tritou (SU), 6-4

Singles Competition:

No. 1: #94 Miranda Ramirez (SU) def. #96 Francesca Fusinato (Tech), 6-3, 6-3

No. 2: #95 Natalie Novotna (Tech) def. #80 Gabriela Knutson (SU), 6-4, 6-2

No. 3: Elena Cerezo-Codina (Tech) def. Anna Shkudun (SU), 6-0, 6-1

No. 4: Caroline Daxhelet (Tech) def. Maria Tritou (SU), 6-1, 6-1

No. 5: Dina Hegab (SU) def. Sansitha Nandakumar (Tech), 6-3, 6-1

No. 6: Libi Mesh (SU) def. Katherine Butler (Tech), 6-4, 6-1

Order of Finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,2,3,5,1,6)

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