Tech drops a heartbreaker in the first round of the 2017 ACC Championships

The Hokies fell to Boston College by a score of 4-3

April 26, 2017

BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women’s tennis team dropped a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Boston College in the first round of the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Women’s Tennis Championships, today, at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College in Rome, Georgia.

The Hokies (11-13, 4-10 ACC) fell behind 1-0, as the team dropped its doubles matches at the No. 3 and No. 2 slots by a score of 6-1 and 6-3, respectively. Of note, senior Francesca Fusinato and junior Caroline Daxhelet – the No. 69-ranked doubles tandem in the nation – were the only duo to score a victory in doubles play, picking up a 6-3 win at the No. 1 slot.

Tech was able to make a comeback and win three-of-six singles matches, but it wasn’t enough, as Boston College (10-13, 4-10 ACC) clinched the fourth-match point on court three to claim the team victory.

Freshman Natalie Novotna, ranked No. 101 nationally, made quick work of her opponent on court two to put the Hokies on the scoreboard. She topped her third ranked opponent of the year, defeating Boston College’s No. 110 Leix Borr in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-3. Of note, Novotna has won five of her last six matches at the No. 2 singles slot, boasting a team best 18-5 overall record in dual-match play this season.

However, freshman Nancy Ghanem and senior Sansitha Nandakumar fell in straight sets on court six and five, respectively, to give the Eagles’ a 3-1 advantage over the Hokies.

With Tech down 3-1, Fusinato and Daxhelet each claimed victories on their respective courts to tie the match at three-all. No. 111 Fusinato topped Boston College’s Asiya Dair on court one by a score of 6-3, 6-3. Daxhelet followed suit with a 6-4, 6-2 victory on court four.

With the match tied at three apiece, all eyes shifted to court three for the deciding point, which was won by Boston College’s Kylie Wilcox. Junior Elena Cerezo-Codina put up a hard-fought battle, but she couldn’t overcome Wilcox’s game, falling in straight sets by a score of 7-5, 6-4.

While Tech has been eliminated from the ACC Tournament, its NCAA hopes are still alive thanks to a strong schedule of competition. The NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Selection Show will air on Tuesday, May 2 at 5:30 p.m. The NCAA Singles Championships bracket will be announced with a press release from the NCAA on Wednesday, May 3.

Doubles Competition:

No. 1: #69 Caroline Daxhelet/Francesca Fusinato (Tech) def. Dasha Possokhova/Kylie Wilcox (BC), 6-3

No. 2: Lexi Borr/Jackie Urbinati (BC) def. Elena Cerezo-Codina/Natalie Novotna (Tech), 6-3

No. 3: Asiya Dair/Elene Tsokilauri (BC) def. Sansitha Nandakumar/Luisa Uscocovich (Tech), 6-1

Singles Competition:

No. 1: #111 Francesca Fusinato (Tech) def. Asiya Dair (BC), 6-3, 6-3

No. 2: #101 Natalie Novotna (Tech) def. #110 Lexi Borr (BC), 6-2, 6-3

No. 3: Kylie Wilcox (BC) def. Elena Cerezo-Codina (Tech), 7-5, 6-4

No. 4: Caroline Daxhelet (Tech) def. Emily Safron (BC), 6-4, 6-2

No. 5: Jackie Urbinati (BC) def. Sansitha Nandakumar (Tech), 6-2, 6-3

No. 6: Elene Tsokilauri (BC) def. Nancy Ghanem (Tech), 6-0, 6-4

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

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