Syracuse Prevails Over Drexel 4-2 To Remain Undefeated
By Samuel Reis | @SamuelReisTV
Citrus TV Tennis Beat Reporter
PHILADELPHIA, PA – In its first road trip of the season, Syracuse Tennis got the job done in a 4-2 win over Drexel to improve to 5-0 on the season.
Today’s dual had an interesting twist as only five players were available for Drexel. Since the Dragons were short handed, they could only field two doubles teams. As a result, Syracuse Head Coach Younes Limam mixed things up, pairing Miyuka Kimoto and Viktoriya Kanapatskaya for #1 Doubles. They fell to Renata Lombera and Lorie Lemongo 7-6.
Meanwhile in #2 Doubles, Polina Kozyreva and Ines Fonte overcame Isabel Cabrerizo and Cristina Gonzalez 6-3. While typically that would leave the last doubles match to decide the doubles point, Syracuse earned that point by way of forfeit.
Drexel being down a player also meant one less match in the singles slate. That provided an opportunity for the Orange to rest Miyuka Kimoto, who dealt with an elbow injury last weekend. Therefore, it was Zeynep Erman who filled her spot at #1 Singles.
On #5 Singles, Ito Shiori was the first to wrap up her match in a 6-3, 6-2 decision over Aida Mendez. #2 Singles ended early as Viktoriya Kanapatskaya had to forfeit her match. After dropping the first set 6-2 to Renata Lombera, she dropped out trailing the second set 3-0.
Erman had her unbeaten start to the year in singles come to an end against Lorie Lemongo 7-5, 6-1. That meant it all came down to the last two matches still on court with the dual tied at 2-2. Fortunately for S.U., both Polina Kozyreva and Ines Fonte took care of business in straight sets.
In #3 Singles, Kozyreva defeated Isabel Cabrerizo 7-6, 6-3 after a tight first set. That clinched the win for Syracuse. In the last match remaining, Fonte took down Cristina Gonzalez comfortably 6-2, 6-2 to give the Orange a 4-2 win in their first away dual of the season.
Syracuse will return to Drumlins on Monday, February 13th for a contest with Buffalo at 3 p.m. Make sure to follow my twitter @SamuelReisTV and @CitrusTVSports for all of the updates.
