Panthers Host Syracuse, Clemson in Final Home Matches
4/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 7, 2016
PITTSBURGH - The Pitt tennis team is set to host No. 32 Syracuse and No. 31 Clemson Friday, April 8 and Sunday, April 10, respectively, in its last home matches of the regular season at the Alpha Tennis and Fitness Center. Action with the Orange (10-6, 4-6 ACC) is set to begin at 1 p.m., while the Panthers (7-9, 1-9 ACC) and Tigers (8-7, 6-4 ACC) will get underway at noon.
SERIES HISTORY
Syracuse and Pitt first met in 1978 and have met 10 times since then. The Orange own a 10-1 advantage in the series with the Panthers lone win coming in 2008. Pitt and Clemson meet for just the third time in program history. The Tigers claimed both matches in 2014 and 2015.
LAST TIME OUT
The Panthers dropped two ACC matches a week ago to Boston College and NC State.
Pitt claimed the doubles point against the Eagles on the road, but it wouldn't be enough as the squad fell 4-3.
On Sunday, the Wolfpack left Pittsburgh with a 5-2 win under their belt. Freshman Carina Ma and redshirt junior Amber Washington were the lone Panthers to record wins on the day.
SCOUTING THE ORANGE
Syracuse, ranked 32nd in the nation, comes to Pittsburgh fresh off two ACC wins last weekend. The Orange took down No. 19 Wake Forest, 4-3, before defeating Florida State, 6-1.
Freshman Gabriela Knutson is the singles player to keep an eye on as of late. Knutson improved to 11-4 overall and 10-4 at the No. 3 position after claiming both of her singles matches in the ACC team wins. She also ranks 81st among the nation's best singles players this week. Joining her in the rankings is graduate student Anna Shkudun, who came in at No. 69 this week.
Knutson is also a threat in doubles, as she and teammate Valeria Salazar Garza improved to No. 28 in the latest national rankings. The duo are 8-3 overall this season.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Prior to Sunday's contest, the 31st-ranked Clemson tennis team will face Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., on Friday. In their last time out, the Tigers were blanked by No. 7 Miami, 7-0, but not before defeating Louisville 5-2 a week ago.
Clemson boasts three singles players ranked nationally this week including No. 24 Joana Eidukonyte, No. 73 Ayan Broomfield and No. 104 Theresa Piontek. Eidukonyte and Piontek also rank 53rd in doubles.
UP NEXT
The Panthers conclude the regular season on the road at Virginia (April 15) and Florida State (April 17) before heading to the 2016 ACC Championships beginning April 20.
#H2P
Follow @Pitt_Tennis on Twitter and Instagram for updates on the team throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
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