Tennis : 3 matches, 3 wins for Syracuse
Emily Harman had just completed her victory over Hilary Hansen of Niagara in the No.1 singles match Saturday. The following day, she would face her next opponent from Binghamton. So how would she get herself ready?
‘I’m going to go home and do some homework,’ Harman said.
It may not seem like the typical way to prepare for an opponent. But Harman’s plan was to go home, finish her homework and get some sleep. No drills later that day, no running any more miles. Just homework and bed.
The match Saturday was the second of a three-day, three-match stretch against Colgate, whom the Orange (3-0) swept 7-0, Niagara (a 7-0 win) and Binghamton (a 6-1 win). So even though head coach Luke Jensen’s No. 1 singles player wanted nothing but rest, she said keeping the team’s energy up is not an issue, even for such a stretch.
‘Our mantra is ‘Orange Energy,” Jensen said. ‘The secret weapon that we have here at Syracuse is our conditioning staff. What people don’t see is the conditioning that goes on at Manley Field House. These kids are fitter, faster and stronger than their competition.’
Jensen also added that his team runs five miles a day. So it is understandable why Harman would head home and go to bed.
The hard work paid off, though, as SU is off to a 3-0 start to its season. The Orange never dropped a set to the Purple Eagles Saturday, sweeping them in both singles and doubles competition. This was the second-straight sweep for Syracuse against Niagara in the past two seasons.
At the No.1 spot, freshman Emily Harman defeated Hansen, 6-2, 6-1, in a match that saw several momentum changes until Harman eventually put the match away. Hansen showed visible frustration until she worked her way back into the match.
‘I just kind of let off the gas a little bit,’ Harman said. ‘That’s one part of my game that I’m going to be working on in terms of finishing out with the serve.’
Jensen stressed the importance of confidence in his team’s play.
‘This is the first team that I’ve been a part of here at Syracuse where there’s an inner-confidence that they’re prepared and they’re ready to go,’ Jensen said. ‘Last year was a complete panic for the sophomores who were then freshmen, but confidence comes to mind every time I just watch them compete after all the weeks and months of practicing.’
Elsewhere in singles play, sophomore Christina Tan defeated Raquel Solis 6-0, 6-1, at the No. 2 spot, while freshman Alessondra Parra was able to take down senior Vania Lakic at the No. 3 spot, 6-1, 6-0. Sophomore Simone Kalhorn continued the Orange’s strong play with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Alyssa Lucas.
Juniors Chelsea Jones and Ashley Spicer rounded out the Nos. 5 and 6 spots, respectively. Neither player dropped a game, with Jones beating Emma Cunnington 6-0, 6-0, and Spicer dominating Victoria Tiso 6-0, 6-0.
In doubles play, the No. 1 team of Harman and Tan swept Hansen and Lucas, 8-0. The No. 2 squad of Jones and Spicer also pulled off a sweep, pummeling Solis and Cunnington, 8-0.
The No. 3 team of Kalhorn and Jacquelynn Tang had to work harder for its 8-5 victory over Lakic and Brittany Walters. Several games during the match went to deuce multiple times. A smash from Kalhorn finally ended the match and gave the Orange the victory and the doubles point.
Despite the two sweeps to start the season, Jensen knows that the team is not perfect. Certain areas still need improvement.
‘Chemistry in the doubles,’ Jensen said of those target areas. ‘Tennis is different from basketball or football, because those kids play in team environments. All of these kids, their whole lives, have played in individual tournaments. Yes, they may play doubles, but it’s nothing like this.’
Still, the team recognizes the importance of such a strong start, especially because the competition will not let up anytime soon.
‘It’s massive,’ Jensen said Saturday of the importance of the team’s 2-0 start. ‘The season is going to get a lot tougher, and they understand that. The biggest thing is that nobody is hurt. We’ve got a full squad that’s healthy.’
The players also appreciate the value of two sweeps – and three wins – to open the season.
‘It is important, just for our confidence,’ Harman said. ‘I know my confidence can go pretty quick, which I’m working on, so it’s very nice to get two big wins in such an early start.’
Jensen and his team will look to carry that energy into the rest of the season. For his part, Jensen says they are ready.
Said Jensen: ‘The bottom line is this is a great team.’