South Florida dominates singles matches, hands Orange loss in team’s first contest

Syracuse dropped its first match of the season on the road against the South Florida Bulls (1-0) in Tampa, Fla., on Saturday. While the Orange (0-1) won two of its first three doubles matches, the Bulls dominated in the singles matches, winning four of six en route to the 4-3 victory.

Syracuse secured the victory in doubles when Maddie Kobelt and Valeria Salazar won the No. 1 doubles game 6-4. That was followed by SU’s Aleah Morrow and Rhiann Newborn winning their match 6-2.

Yet the Orange was not as efficient in its singles matches.

It started with two of its more experienced players dropping their respective matches. Amanda Rogers dropped her match 6-1, 6-1, and Kobelt was unable to come out with the victory, as well, losing in a third-set tiebreaker, 10-4.

SU’s two victories in singles came from Salazar 6-0, 3-6, (10-3) and Newborn 1-6, 6-2, (10-5).

Syracuse will return to the courts on the road next Saturday against Texas Christian in Forth Worth, Texas.