Cal Defeats Syracuse 5-2 for Second Loss Out West
By Drew Albaugh | @Drew_Albaugh
In the second and final match of its two-game road trip to California, Cal (5-4, 2-0 ACC) defeated Syracuse (8-5, 1-5 ACC) 5-2. It was the Orange’s first loss against the Golden Bears in program history, though it was also the first matchup between the two teams.
The dual began with a competitive doubles battle. The No. 2 pairing of Miyuka Kimoto and Anastasia Sysoeva fell 6-2 to open the match, but the No. 3 duo of Serafima Shastova and Monika Wojcik responded with a 6-4 win over Tiziana-M Schomburg and Naomi Xu. The doubles point came down to the No. 1 pairing of Kimoto and Nelly Knezkova for the Orange. Since upsetting a top-10 pairing against Duke, the duo has lost three straight, and that streak continued in Berkeley with a 6-4 loss.
Although just one of seven potential points, the doubles point has been crucial for Syracuse. The Orange are undefeated when securing the first point but are just 1-5 when failing to do so.
Syracuse struggled in singles play as well. Cal secured a dominant victory, winning four of the five completed matches. Mao Mushika, Jessica Alsola, Lan Mi and Berta Passola Folch all won in straight sets, while Kimoto, Knezkova, Shiori Ito and Sysoeva fell in their respective matches. The only finished point for SU came from Wojcik, who defeated Xu 6-4, 6-2. Shastova also added a point for Syracuse after Greta Greco Lucchina was forced to retire due to injury while trailing 5-4 in the first set.
Syracuse will look to snap its two-match skid against Georgia Tech. The Orange have time to regroup before facing the Yellow Jackets on March 21 in Atlanta. I’ll have coverage of that match on Twitter @Drew_Albaugh and @CitrusTVSports.
