Rutgers Women's Tennis Gives Syracuse First BIG EAST Loss
Mar 01 | Women's Tennis
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Sophomore Amy Zhang (Plano, Texas) picked up victories at the No. 1 spot in both singles and doubles to lead the Rutgers women’s tennis team to a 5-2 victory over Syracuse Sunday afternoon at the RU Tennis Bubble.
Rutgers, which has won three of its last four matches, improves to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the BIG EAST. Syracuse falls to 8-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
“This was a key BIG EAST win over a well coached Syracuse team,” said head coach Ben Bucca. "There was a great atmosphere today at the Busch Tennis Center with a standing room only crowd. The tennis was intense and it was a great level of play for our program. We hope this victory gives us great momentum going into our match with Cornell next Sunday.”
Zhang needed a third set tiebreaker to best Emily Harman of Syracuse. After winning the first set 7-5, Zhang fell 6-1 in the second. With the score tied at six in the decisive third, the sophomore managed to pull out the victory by claiming the tiebreaker 7-4. The loss was Harman’s first in conference play.
Senior Polina Zaretser (Brooklyn, N.Y.) would pair with Zhang at No. 1 doubles for an 8-4 win. Zaretser would also win at No. 3 singles in straight sets. Freshman Morgan Ivey (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) was the only other Scarlet Knight to pick up wins in both singles and doubles. Ivey garnered a 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 6 singles and she teamed up with classmate Jennifer Holzberg (Easton, Conn.) for an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles.
The Scarlet Knights will continue a five-match homestand on Sunday, March 8 against Cornell. The match will begin at 10 a.m. at the RU Tennis Bubble.
AGATE:
Rutgers 5, Syracuse 2
DOUBLES
1. Zaretser/Zhang def. Harman/Tan, 8-4
2. Spicer/Jones def. Arlak/Tran, 8-2
3. Holzberg/Ivey def. Parra/Kalhorn, 8-4
SINGLES
1. Zhang def. Harman, 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (4)
2. Tan def. Arlak, 6-3, 6-1
3. Zaretser def. Kalhorn, 6-1, 6-3
4. Parra def. Holzberg, 6-4, 6-1
5. Milchutskey def. Spicer, 6-3, 6-4
6. Ivey def. Jones, 6-2, 6-1
