Women’s tennis: #9 Virginia downs #62 Syracuse, 5-2

The No. 9 Virginia (5-3, 2-0 ACC) women’s tennis team rallied to claim the doubles point then stormed to three straight set victories on the way to a 5-2 win at No. 62 Syracuse (7-1, 1-1 ACC).

Virginia got singles wins from No. 2 Danielle Collins (St. Petersburg, Fla.), No. 15 Julia Elbaba (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) and Meghan Kelley (Falmouth, Me.) to clinch the win after claiming the doubles point. Victoria Olivarez (Virginia Beach, Va.) also picked up a singles win for the final 5-2 margin of victory.

The Cavaliers rallied to grab the doubles point and take the early lead in the match. Trailing on both courts one and two, the Cavaliers bore down and pulled out the doubles victory. The duo of Collins and Wingo rallied to win 6-4 on court one, while the pairing of Elbaba and Kelley rallied to win in a tiebreak 7-6 (1) on court two to clinch the doubles point.

Collins gave the Cavaliers the 2-0 lead as she made quick work of No. 43 Anna Shkudun on court one. She posted a 6-1, 6-1 win to extend the Cavalier lead.

Moments later, Virginia got another win from the freshman Kelley to take the 3-0 lead. Kelley won 6-1, 6-4 over Libi Mesh on court five. Elbaba then clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-4 win on court two over Valeria Salazar.

The teams finished out the remaining singles matches with Erica Susi falling 3-6, 6-4, 0-1 (6) to Dina Hegab in a super tiebreak after splitting the first two sets on court six.

Olivarez completed her rally on court four, claiming a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Maria Tritou to give the Cavaliers a fifth point in the dual match.

Syracuse closed the match as No. 63 Stephanie Nauta (Galveston, Texas) fell 7-6, 1-6, 4-6 on court three to Gabriela Knutson for the Orange’s second point of the match.

Virginia will return to action on Sunday, Feb. 28, when the Cavaliers host a pair of matches. The Cavaliers will face ACC Louisville at 11 a.m. before hosting Norfolk State at 4 p.m.

 

No. 9 Virginia 5, No. 62 Syracuse 2

Doubles

1. Collins/Wingo (UVA) def. Mitchell/Tritou (SU) – 6-4
2. Elbaba/Kelley (UVA) vs. Hegab/Shkudun (SU) – 7-6 (2)
3. Knutson/Salazar (SU) def. Nauta/Olivarez (UVA) – 6-1

Singles

1. No. 2 Danielle Collins (UVA) def.  No. 43 Anna Shkudun (SU) – 6-1, 6-1
2. No. 15 Julia Elbaba (UVA) def. Valeria Salazar (SU) – 6-3, 6-4
3. Gabriela Knutson (SU) def. No. 63 Stephanie Nauta (UVA) – 7-6 (6), 1-6, 4-6
4. Victoria Olivarez (UVA) def. Maria Tritou (SU) – 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Meghan Kelley (UVA) def. Libi Mesh (SU) – 6-1, 6-4
6. Dina Hegab (SU) def. Erica Susi (UVA)  – 3-6, 6-4, 1-0