Thursday, April 21
Cary, N.C.
10 AM
NC State
3
vs
4
Syracuse [Second Round]
NC State's ACC Championship Run Comes to an End
4/21/2016 3:30:00 PM | Women's Tennis
No. 10 Wolfpack falls to No. 7 Syracuse in second round of play
CARY, N.C. – Tenth-seeded NC State's ACC Championship run came to a close Thursday afternoon when it fell 4-3 to No. 7 seed Syracuse in the second round of tournament play.
Prior to its second-round loss, the Pack dominated in round one, knocking out Louisville in a 4-0 sweep to advance to Thursday's matchup.
RELATED STORY: NC State Dominates Louisville, Advances to Second Round of ACC Championship
The Wolfpack improved its start to the match compared to its last meeting with the Orange, this time capturing the doubles decision in the first two finishes. Bianca Moldovan and Joanna Nalborska once again tallied the first doubles win for the Red and White, downing Anna Shkudun and Dina Hegab 6-1. Not far behind, Amanda Rebol and Claudia Wiktorin followed with a 6-4 win over Maria Tritou and Nicole Mitchell to clinch the point as Martina Frantova and Tayla Stenta's No. 1 doubles match went unfinished tied 5-5 with No. 33 Valeria Salazar and Gabriela Knutson.
The top of the Pack lineup struggled in singles play against Syracuse. The Orange managed to tie the dual not long into individual action as Moldovan dropped No. 3 singles 6-1, 6-2 to No. 81 Knutson. Wiktorin was able to regain NC State's lead with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 victory over Tritou which then edged out even further following Barbara Mancera's third-consecutive straight-set win in which she defeated Hegab 7-5, 6-2.
Frantova and Nalborska fought to hang on in the top two spots. After narrowing No. 62 Shkudun's lead from three to one, No. 37 Frantova's comeback couldn't hold off the deciding point as she fell 6-4, 6-4 to fellow All-ACC Second Team honoree, No. 62 Shkudun.
In the midst of the ACC Championship action, Frantova was named to the All-ACC Second Team. The honor comes as her second conference accolade this week as she was selected as ACC Co-Player of the Week on Tuesday.
RELATED STORY: Frantova Earns All-ACC Second Team Honor
Nalborska produced a comeback in the second-set tiebreak, moving the match into a deciding third set. Her valiant effort couldn't hold off Salazar's lead as Nalborska fell 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 and Syracuse tied the dual 3-3.
Notorious for deciding finishes, the Pack needed a win from Rebol to clinch the dual and advance to the quarterfinal round. Her 5-3 lead in the final set was caught and the Orange's Mesh proceeded to hold off the match point. Mesh then edged out front and was able to gain control in the final few plays, taking a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 win over Rebol ending NC State's run at the ACC Championship.
SIMON SAYS
The Wolfpack will await its fate at the 2016 NCAA Championship with selections set for May 3.
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
SINGLES
1. #62 Anna Shkudun (SU) def. #37 Martina Frantova (ST) 6-4, 6-4
2. Valeria Salazar (SU) def. Joanna Nalborska (ST) 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3
3. #81 Gabriela Knutson (SU) def. Bianca Moldovan (ST) 6-1, 6-2
4. Claudia Wiktorin (ST) def. Maria Tritou (SU) 7-6 (7-1), 6-3
5. Libi Mesh (SU) def. Amanda Rebol (ST) 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
6. Barbara Mancera (ST) def. Dina Hegab (SU) 7-5, 6-2
DOUBLES
1. Martina Frantova/Tayla Stenta (ST) vs. #33 Valeria Salazar/Gabriela Knutson (SU) 5-5, unfinished
2. Bianca Moldovan/Joanna Nalborska (ST) def. Anna Shkudun/Dina Hegab (SU) 6-1
3. Amanda Rebol/Claudia Wiktorin (ST) def. Maria Tritou/Nicole Mitchell (SU) 6-4
Stay up to date with the latest on NC State women's tennis:
Twitter: @PackWTennis
Facebook: NC State Women's Tennis
Instagram: @PackWTennis
Prior to its second-round loss, the Pack dominated in round one, knocking out Louisville in a 4-0 sweep to advance to Thursday's matchup.
RELATED STORY: NC State Dominates Louisville, Advances to Second Round of ACC Championship
The Wolfpack improved its start to the match compared to its last meeting with the Orange, this time capturing the doubles decision in the first two finishes. Bianca Moldovan and Joanna Nalborska once again tallied the first doubles win for the Red and White, downing Anna Shkudun and Dina Hegab 6-1. Not far behind, Amanda Rebol and Claudia Wiktorin followed with a 6-4 win over Maria Tritou and Nicole Mitchell to clinch the point as Martina Frantova and Tayla Stenta's No. 1 doubles match went unfinished tied 5-5 with No. 33 Valeria Salazar and Gabriela Knutson.
The top of the Pack lineup struggled in singles play against Syracuse. The Orange managed to tie the dual not long into individual action as Moldovan dropped No. 3 singles 6-1, 6-2 to No. 81 Knutson. Wiktorin was able to regain NC State's lead with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 victory over Tritou which then edged out even further following Barbara Mancera's third-consecutive straight-set win in which she defeated Hegab 7-5, 6-2.
Frantova and Nalborska fought to hang on in the top two spots. After narrowing No. 62 Shkudun's lead from three to one, No. 37 Frantova's comeback couldn't hold off the deciding point as she fell 6-4, 6-4 to fellow All-ACC Second Team honoree, No. 62 Shkudun.
In the midst of the ACC Championship action, Frantova was named to the All-ACC Second Team. The honor comes as her second conference accolade this week as she was selected as ACC Co-Player of the Week on Tuesday.
RELATED STORY: Frantova Earns All-ACC Second Team Honor
Nalborska produced a comeback in the second-set tiebreak, moving the match into a deciding third set. Her valiant effort couldn't hold off Salazar's lead as Nalborska fell 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 and Syracuse tied the dual 3-3.
Notorious for deciding finishes, the Pack needed a win from Rebol to clinch the dual and advance to the quarterfinal round. Her 5-3 lead in the final set was caught and the Orange's Mesh proceeded to hold off the match point. Mesh then edged out front and was able to gain control in the final few plays, taking a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 win over Rebol ending NC State's run at the ACC Championship.
SIMON SAYS
The Wolfpack will await its fate at the 2016 NCAA Championship with selections set for May 3.
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
SINGLES
1. #62 Anna Shkudun (SU) def. #37 Martina Frantova (ST) 6-4, 6-4
2. Valeria Salazar (SU) def. Joanna Nalborska (ST) 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3
3. #81 Gabriela Knutson (SU) def. Bianca Moldovan (ST) 6-1, 6-2
4. Claudia Wiktorin (ST) def. Maria Tritou (SU) 7-6 (7-1), 6-3
5. Libi Mesh (SU) def. Amanda Rebol (ST) 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
6. Barbara Mancera (ST) def. Dina Hegab (SU) 7-5, 6-2
DOUBLES
1. Martina Frantova/Tayla Stenta (ST) vs. #33 Valeria Salazar/Gabriela Knutson (SU) 5-5, unfinished
2. Bianca Moldovan/Joanna Nalborska (ST) def. Anna Shkudun/Dina Hegab (SU) 6-1
3. Amanda Rebol/Claudia Wiktorin (ST) def. Maria Tritou/Nicole Mitchell (SU) 6-4
Stay up to date with the latest on NC State women's tennis:
Twitter: @PackWTennis
Facebook: NC State Women's Tennis
Instagram: @PackWTennis
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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