Wake Forest University
Syracuse
Wake Forest Drops 4-3 Decision at Syracuse
4/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWTennis)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The 19th-ranked Wake Forest women's tennis team jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but ultimately fell short, 4-3, against No. 40 Syracuse on Friday afternoon at the Drumlins Country Club in Syracuse, N.Y.
Kimmy Guerin and Joanna Zalewski won in singles after the Demon Deacons won the doubles competition, but four-straight singles wins by the Orange gave the hosts the win.
The Deacons' 2016 record dropped to 16-6 with the defeat. They are now 5-5 in ACC play. The Orange is now 9-6 with a 3-5 conference mark.
Despite suffering a 6-3 loss at No. 1 doubles, the Deacs fought back to seize the first point of the match. Luisa Fernandez and Andrea Retolaza Andrade evened the competition with a 6-3 win at No. 3 before Emma Davis and Samantha Asch prevailed, 7-5, at No. 3 to make it 1-0.
The victory for Fernandez and Retolaza was the duo's 24th of the 2015-16 season, tying them for the ninth-most wins for a doubles pairing in a single season in program history.
Guerin wasted little time padding Wake Forest's lead in singles, downing No. 47 Anna Shkudun, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 1 to make it 2-0. The triumph was Guerin's sixth over a ranked opponent on the spring.
Trailing by two, the Orange rallied to win by claiming the next four matches to finish. Maria Tritou started the comeback with a straight-set win at No. 5. No. 80 Gabriela Knutson then tied the match by holding off Anna Ulyashchenko in three sets.
To give Syracuse the lead, Valeria Salazar topped Davis in three sets. Libi Mesh clinched the match at No. 6 by erasing a one-set deficit and winning a 7-1 tiebreaker in the third set to make it 4-2 in favor of the Orange.
Zalewski came from behind for a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 win at the fourth position to conclude the dual match. The victory was her team-leading 17th of the spring.
The Demon Deacons resume action on Sunday with a 5:30 p.m. contest at No. 55 Boston College. The match, which was originally scheduled for a noon start, will be played indoors at the Dedham Health and Athletic Club in Dedham, Mass.
No. 40 Syracuse 4, No. 19 Wake Forest 3
Singles competition
1. No. 84 Kimmy Guerin (WF) def. No. 47 Anna Shkudun (SU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Valeria Salazar (SU) def. No. 112 Emma Davis (WF) 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-2
3. No. 80 Gabriela Knutson (SU) def. Anna Ulyashchenko (WF) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
4. Joanna Zalewski (WF) def. Dina Hegab (SU) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
5. Maria Tritou (SU) def. Samantha Asch (WF) 7-6 (5), 6-2
6. Libi Mesh (SU) def. Luisa Fernandez (WF) 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (1)
Order of Finish: 1,5,3,2,6,4
Doubles competition
1. No. 33 Valeria Salazar/Gabriela Knutson (SU) def. Kimmy Guerin/Anna Ulyashchenko (WF) 6-3
2. Emma Davis/Samantha Asch (WF) def. Anna Shkudun/Dina Hegab (SU) 7-5
3. Luisa Fernandez/Andrea Retolaza (WF) def. Maria Tritou/Nicole Mitchell (SU) 6-3
Order of Finish: 1,3,2
Players Mentioned
