#24 Tennis Topped By #55 NC State

RALEIGH, N.C.- Freshman Gabriela Knutson picked up a win in both doubles and singles play for the No. 24 Syracuse women's tennis team, but it was not enough as the Orange fell to No. 55 North Carolina State by the final score of 5-2.

Knutson and teammate junior Valeria Salazar moved to 6-0 on the season in their doubles victory for Syracuse (8-3, 2-3 ACC). North Carolina State (8-3, 2-2 ACC) utilized five singles victories to defeat the Orange.

After sophomore Nicole Mitchell and freshman Maria Tritou were downed 6-0 to Bianca Moldovan and Joanna Nalborska, the Orange bounced back with two straight doubles wins to take the point. Graduate student Anna Shkudun and freshman Dina Hegab defeated Amanda Rebol and Claudia Wiktorin 6-4 before Knutson and Salazar won 6-4 over Martina Frantova and Tayla Stenta.

Knutson moved to 8-2 in singles play and put Syracuse up 2-0 with a two-set victory over Bianca
Moldovan 6-2, 6-1. Despite a 2-0 lead from the Orange in the early going, Syracuse was unable to lock up any singles points for the remainder of the match.

Below are the results from singles play:

1. #63 Martina Frantova (ST) def. #42 Anna Shkudun (SU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
2. Joanna Nalborska (ST) def. #124 Valeria Salazar (SU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
3. #115 Gabriela Knutson (SU) def. Bianca Moldovan (ST) 6-2, 6-1
4. Amanda Rebol (ST) def. Maria Tritou (SU) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Tayla Stenta (ST) def. Libi Mesh (SU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Claudia Wiktorin (ST) def. Dina Hegab (SU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2

Doubles:

1. Valeria Salazar/Gabriela Knutson (SU) def. Martina Frantova/Tayla Stenta (ST) 6-4
2. Anna Shkudun/Dina Hegab (SU) def. Amanda Rebol/Claudia Wiktorin (ST) 6-4
3. Bianca Moldovan/Joanna Nalborska (ST) def. Nicole Mitchell/Maria Tritou (SU) 6-0