Pitt Tennis Falls to No. 32 Syracuse

Friday, April 8

Pittsburgh, Pa.

1:00 PM

Pitt

Syracuse

Pitt Tennis Falls to No. 32 Syracuse

4/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

April 8, 2016

Final Stats

Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats

PITTSBURGH - The Pitt tennis team dropped a hard-fought battle to No. 32 Syracuse Friday afternoon at the Alpha Tennis and Fitness Center. The Orange left Pittsburgh with a 6-1 win.

"We are really close to winning these matches," head coach Alex Santos said. "The major focus now is looking at what we need to do in order to perform even better against Clemson on Sunday. Overall it was a decent match and fight. We just need a little more to start closing in on these matches."

The Orange gained an early advantage in the dual, claiming the doubles point after back-to-back wins on courts one and three. The Pitt tandem of juniors Audrey Ann Blakely and Lolade Ogungbesan fell 6-1 before freshmen Gabriela Rezende and Natsumi Okamoto dropped a 6-2 decision.

Syracuse gained its second and third dual points of the day after Rezende fell in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, to Maria Tritou at No. 4 singles. Ogungbesan then dropped straight sets to Valeria Salazar 6-3, 6-3, giving the Orange a 3-0 advantage.

The next victory turned in was by Pitt's redshirt junior Amber Washington playing No. 5 singles. Washington downed Syracuse's Dina Hegab in the first set, 6-1, but had to fight for a 7-5 second set victory. With today's win, Washington improves to 23-8 overall on the season, including a 9-2 mark against ACC opponents.

Playing No. 6 singles, freshman Clara Lucas fell short in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, to Libi Mesh. The loss would secure the team win for Syracuse, 4-1.

At No. 1 singles, Blakely did not go down without a fight. She blanked No. 69 Anna Shkudun 6-0 in the first set, but went down, 6-2, 6-4, in the remaining sets.

Sophomore Callie Frey was the last Panther to finish competition this afternoon. Frey fell in tiebreakers in both sets to No. 81 Gabriela Knutson.

Pitt returns to Alpha Tennis and Fitness Center Sunday, April 10 to host No. 31 Clemson at noon.

SINGLES

#69 Anna Shkudun (SU) def. #111 Audrey Ann Blakely (UP) 0-6, 6-2, 6-4
Valeria Salazar (SU) def. Lolade Ogungbesan (UP) 6-3, 6-3
#81 Gabriela Knutson (SU) def. Callie Frey (UP) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-1)
Maria Tritou (SU) def. Gabriela Rezende (UP) 6-1, 6-4
Amber Washington (UP) def. Dina Hegab (SU) 6-1, 7-5
Libi Mesh (SU) def. Clara Lucas (UP) 6-4, 6-4

DOUBLES

#28 Valeria Salazar/Gabriela Knutson (SU) def. Audrey Ann Blakely/Lolade Ogungbesan (UP) 6-1
Amber Washington/Callie Frey (UP) vs. Anna Shkudun/Dina Hegab (SU) 5-2, unfinished
Maria Tritou/Nicole Mitchell (SU) def. Gabriela Rezende/Natsumi Okamoto (UP) 6-2