Hokie ClubWaco, Texas – Özlem Uslu is competing in the NCAA Singles Championships in Waco, Texas for the second time in her career.
DAY 3 – Uslu finishes a historic run in the NCAA Tournament with an exit in the Round of 16.
Uslu fell to No. 12 Julia Fliegner of Michigan in straight sets on Thursday, Nov. 21. Uslu went down 6-2 in the first set, but kept fighting throughout the second. She ultimately lost 6-2, 6-4 to Fliegner.
Uslu became Virginia Tech Women’s Tennis’s first All-American with her run to the Round of 16.
DAY 2 – Uslu mounted a remarkable comeback in order to book her spot in the Round of 16.
Uslu dropped 6-0 in the first set to No. 83 Lutkemeyer. She refound her footing in the second set, taking Lutkemeyer wire-to-wire, forcing a tiebreak. Uslu came out on top in the tiebreak, winning 7-4 to force a third set. She dominated the third set, winning 6-0.
With this win and advancing to the Round of 16, Uslu becomes the first player in Virginia Tech history to be named an All-American.
She will play No. 12 Julia Fliegner of Michigan on Thursday, Nov. 21 at a time still to be determined in the Round of 16.
DAY 1 –
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, Uslu defeated No. 34 Bridget Stammel of Vanderbilt in straight sets in the opening round of the tournament, 7-6 (7), 6-2. A back-and-forth first set meant that Uslu and Stammel competed wire-to-wire, going all the way to a tiebreak. Uslu came out victorious in the tiebreak, 9-7. She kept that momentum riding into the second set, winning it 6-2.
Uslu plays UCLA’s Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. ET.