Tech secures its first ACC win over No. 68 SyracuseTech secures its first ACC win over No. 68 Syracuse
Women's Tennis

Tech secures its first ACC win over No. 68 Syracuse

Wins from Özlem Uslu and Semra Aksu were crucial in the 4-3 win.

Opens in a new window Stay Connected Opens in a new window Pledge Per

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Hokies pick up their first ACC victory of the season with a 4-3 win over No. 68 Syracuse.

Tech had contributions across the board, as they were able to string together four points for the first time in ACC play this season.

The afternoon started off with the Hokies picking up the doubles point for only the second time in ACC play this season. Charlotte Cartledge and Özlem Uslu were the first Tech doubles pair to secure a win, with a 6-3 win over Nelly Knezkova and Shiori Ito on Court 2. On Court 1, Arina Gamretkaia and Tara Gorinsek clinched the doubles point for the Hokies with a 7-5 win against Miyuka Kimoto and Anatasia Sysoeva.

From the get-go in singles, it looked like it would be a close match as Syracuse picked up two quick sweeps on Courts 2 and 4.

Playing on Court 5, Mila Mulready was the first Tech player to win in singles as she kicked the team off with a sweep of Syracuse’s Shiori Ito. Mulready won the first set 6-2 and then battled back and forth with Ito in the second, taking it to the tiebreaker. She ultimately outmatched her opponent with a 7-2 tiebreak win.

With the match at 2-2 after Mulready’s win, three Hokies were in the deciding set of their match. Cartledge battled back and forth with Monika Wojcik on Court 6. She dropped the first set 6-4 but bounced back for a 6-4 second-set win. She ultimately fell in the final set, 6-2, putting the pressure on her teammates.

On Court 1, Uslu picked up a much-needed win as she tied the match at 3-3 for the Hokies. She battled with the Orange’s top singles player, Nelly Knezkova, throughout the match to secure her first ACC win of the year. Uslu took the first set 6-4, before dropping the second 6-4. She bounced back to claim the third set, 6-2.

Semra Aksu provided the clinching point for the Hokies as she battled after dropping the first set 7-5 to Syracuse’s Anatasia Sysoeva. She returned massively, taking the second set in the tiebreaker, 7-3. She rode that momentum through in the third set to win 6-1 and clinch the match for the Hokies.

UP NEXT: The Hokies travel to Massachusetts as they look to keep the momentum rolling against the Boston College Eagles on Sunday, April 6 at 10 a.m.