Tennis

Syracuse tennis earns first-ever bid to NCAA tournament

Courtesy of the ACC

Valeria Salazar and Gabriela Knutson helped Syracuse earn its first-ever NCAA tournament bid.

Syracuse has earned its first-ever bid to the NCAA tournament and will play Georgia State in Gainesville, Florida on May 13.

The 27th-ranked Orange finished the season 14-8 and 7-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, including its first-ever win in the ACC tournament. Georgia State (15-5, 4-0 Sun Belt) finished the 2015-16 season ranked No. 45.

SU improved significantly in the second year under head coach Younes Limam after finishing last season 8-13.

The Orange is led by Anna Shkudun, Valeria Salazar, and Gabriela Knutson, who make up the first three singles. No. 58 Shkudun is 12-10 in singles play, while Salazar is one win behind at 11-10. No. 78 Knutson has been the brightest spot at No. 3 singles, as she is 16-5 on the year.

Salazar and Knutson currently make up the No. 26 doubles team in the nation. The duo is currently 12-3 at No. 1 doubles and has wins against multiple then-top 20 pairs.



If the Orange wins on May 13, it will play the winner of unranked South Carolina State and No. 1 Florida.





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