Syracuse coasts past Florida Atlantic, 6-1

Syracuse (10-2, 2-2 Atlantic Coast) concluded nonconference play with a 6-1 win over Florida Atlantic (7-5, 1-1 Conference USA) on Tuesday morning in Boca Raton, Florida. This match marks the end of SU’s five-match road trip, which the Orange went 4-1 on.

The Orange won the doubles point thanks to wins at second and third doubles. The pair of Anna Shkudun and Sofya Golubovskaya won 6-2 at second doubles, while Dina Hegab and Masha Tritou won 7-5 at third doubles. SU’s top pair of Gabriela Knutson and Miranda Ramirez lost together for just the second time this season, falling 7-6 (7-4) in a tiebreaker.

At first singles, Knutson dropped her first match of the season, 7-5, 6-1. After moving up to a career-high No. 11 in the nation last week, Knutson faced another tough challenge, this time against No. 6 Aliona Bolsova. Knutson found herself level at five apiece 10 games into the match but dropped eight of the final nine games. First singles was the only point SU lost Tuesday morning.

Both Ramirez and Tritou rallied from one set down to grab singles points for the Orange. At second singles, Ramirez lost the opener 6-1, then found her game just in time, winning the second and third sets 6-3 and 6-4, respectively.

Tritou also dropped her opening set at 5th singles, but she went on to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. In the other three singles matches, the Orange won in straight sets in the Florida sun.

Golubovskaya won 6-3, 6-2, at third singles to improve her singles record to 8-2 on the season. Libi Mesh sat out the doubles but won comfortably at sixth singles, 6-1, 6-3.

Syracuse now returns home to Drumlins Country Club this Friday to continue ACC play with a 1 p.m. meeting with Clemson.