In the Orange’s first match of the season, Syracuse (1-0) defeated the Richmond Spiders (1-2), 6-1. The match was the first of two back-to-back contests scheduled at the VCU Bubble in Richmond, Virginia.

This season, Syracuse’s first doubles pair, Sonya Treshcheva and Kim Hansen – ITA’s No. 48 ranked pair – helped the Orange secure Sunday’s doubles point. Treshcheva and Hansen defeated their Richmond counterparts – two 2019 A10 All-Conference honorees Emily Dunbar and Kiana Marshall – 6-4.

Syracuse’s second doubles duo of Sofya Golubovskaya and Zeynep Erman were narrowly defeated against another Richmond A10 honoree Dessi Zlateva and partner Lea Owens, 6-4. After the graduation of Gabriela Knutson, part of a historic doubles pair, Miranda Ramirez teamed up with a new doubles partner, fellow senior Guzal Yusupova. Ramirez and Yusupova defeated their Richmond opponents 6-1 to clinch the doubles point.

In singles matches, Syracuse’s first singles player, No. 64 Yusupova, steamrolled Richmond’s Dunbar, taking the first set 6-0. Yusupova then clinched the match with a close 6-4 win. No. 80 Ramirez defeated Richmond’s Zlateva 7-6 (1) in the first set and then ended off the match with a 6-0 sweep.

None of the Orange had to play a third set, with Hansen defeating her opponent 6-4, 7-5, and freshman Polina Kozyreva defeated her opponent 7-6 (6), 6-1. Erman’s opponent retired after losing the first set.

Richmond earned their only singles point when Owens defeated Syracuse’s Treshcheva in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.

With this opening win, SU pushes their season-opener winning streak to six. Tomorrow, Syracuse will play against the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams. The Orange will then return home to face Cornell on Jan. 26.