Bucs seek Power 5 win in Blacksburg 

BLACKSBURG, Va. (Jan. 28, 2023) – The ETSU women’s tennis team continues its challenging January schedule on Sunday with a date in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech. First serve is set for 10 a.m. at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center.

ETSU enters with a 2-2 record following two wins in the Aloha State over Hawaii and Hawaii Pacific and road losses to SEC opponents Kentucky and Ole Miss.

Meanwhile, Virginia Tech enters 1-0 following a 7-0 win at home on Friday over Queens (NC). Following tomorrow’s match with ETSU, the Hokies will also play Davidson on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Despite a 6-1 loss in last season’s match at Virginia Tech, ETSU had competitive matches all around with five of the six singles matches either going to extra sets or a tie-breaker. Furthermore, Laylo Bakhodirova (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) won alongside Alejandra Morales in No. 1 doubles by a 6-2 final and Morales earned the singles point for the Bucs.

Fast-forwarding to this season, Maria Fernanda Carvajal (Queretaro, Mexico) currently leads ETSU with a 3-1 singles record — all from the No. 3 spot. Most recently, Carvajal earned a ranked win over No. 89 Lillian Gabrielsen of Ole Miss.

Bakhodirova, who was the Southern Conference Player of the Week two weeks ago, owns a 2-2 record this season at No. 1 singles and a 2-1 record in doubles action alongside new teammate Mariya Shumeika (Minsk, Belarus).

Yunuen Elizarraras (Cuernavaca, Mexico) and Daniela Rivera (Maturin, Venezuela) are also 2-2 in singles entering this week’s match. Rivera is coming off a win her last time out, defeating Kelsey Mize of Ole Miss by a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) score in the No. 4 spot.

Live stats and live video will be available for Sunday’s match.

For more information on Buccaneer women’s tennis, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women’s tennis page.