University of South Florida
Syracuse
Martinez, Garrido-Rivas Shine in Loss to Syracuse
January 10, 2015 | Women's Tennis
TAMPA (Jan. 10, 2014)? The USF women's tennis team dropped their season opener to the Syracuse Orange, 5-2, Saturday morning at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.
After dropping the doubles point, the Bulls were unable to pick up the four wins needed in singles to propel them to a victory over the Orange.
In doubles play, Syracuse jumped out to an early 5-2 lead on court one, before sophomores Vera Bessonova and Olaya Garrido-Rivas came back to cut the lead to 5-3. Unfortunately, their chance at a comeback was unsuccessful and they fell, 6-3.
Syracuse took the doubles point from the Bulls after tallying a win on court two, 6-2. On court three, freshman Jessica Cortes and sophomore Olaya Martinez had a commanding 5-2 lead before their match was suspended.
In singles, Cortes fell to Syracuse's Komal Safdar at the No. 4 spot 6-1, 6-1, giving Syracuse a 2-0 lead. The Bulls fell behind once again as Hailey Grillo fell to Breanna Bachini 6-1, 6-3 on court five.
USF looked as though they might make a late rally with Martinez winning in dominating fashion at the No. 2 spot and Garrido-Rivas only seconds away from clinching a win at the No. 1 spot. However, the comeback was abruptly stopped as junior Alicia Robinson fell 6-2, 6-2 on court six to give the Orange the victory.?
USF will head north to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the Michigan Hitting Duals, Jan. 17-19. The Bulls will be back at home against UNF on March 7.?
