Syracuse Falls Short in a Narrow ACC Loss
ATLANTA, Ga. – On Sunday, Syracuse learned the hard way that history repeats itself. The Orange have built two four-game winning streaks, interrupted by a four-game skid. When Syracuse traveled down south to play ACC rival Georgia Tech over the weekend, the pattern continued.
No. 27 Syracuse (8-5, 2-3 Atlantic Coast) once again couldn’t surpass the four consecutive win mark, narrowly falling to No. 35 Georgia Tech (4-5, 1-1 ACC) with a final score of 4-3.
The repetition was even more apparent as the Orange came up empty handed after losing the doubles point. Syracuse has only won one match after losing the doubles section. Thus, it is no coincidence that all five of their losses have featured doubles troubles.
It all started when Head Coach Younes Limam decided to sit sophomore Sofya Golubovskaya for her doubles match as she is still recovering from bicep tendonitis. Meanwhile, Sonya Trescheva, Golubovskaya’s life-long doubles partner, returned from her ankle injury. This would have been the first time the two Russians played together since February 3 against Boston College. Instead, Trescheva laced up alongside Libi Mesh for the first time, and the freshman-senior combo lost their set 6-3.
Dina Hegab and Guzal Yusupova lost by the same score.
Despite the doubles loss, Syracuse still had a chance to make up for it in singles with an inventive lineup. Golubovskaya did play her singles match at her usual position on the second court. But playing through her injury, she lost in straight sets 6-2, 6-1.
Yusupova has struggled in her first year at Syracuse after transferring from Washington State. She typically plays on the fourth singles court, but her five losses forced Coach Limam to demote her down to the sixth court against the Yellow Jacket. She took care of business though, winning in straight sets 6-4, 7-6.
Maria Tritou replaced Yusupova on the fourth court but was not as successful. The senior lost in straight sets 6-3, 7-5.
At the same time, Mesh continued to capitalize on her playing time with Trescheva still out of the singles lineup and Dina Hegab getting a rest. Mesh stole a three-set victory 7-6, 2-6, 7-5. Junior Miranda Ramirez also took care of business on the third singles court with a 7-6, 6-3 victory.
Ramirez’s doubles partner was less fortunate. No. 42 Gabriela Knutson had the toughest test, going toe-to-toe with No. 24 Kenya Jones. But Jones closed it out in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
The Orange cap off their four-match road trip against Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton with a chance to get back to their winning ways.
bwklein@syr.edu | @BradKlein15
