Friday, January 23
Hamilton, N.Y.
4:00 p.m.
Syracuse University
at
Colgate
Freshmen Emily Harman, Victoria Ford and Allison Haynes will bolster a strong Syracuse line-up in 2009. Harman has battled her way to the No. 1 singles spot for the Orange this season.
Jensen's Club Ready to Emit 'Orange Energy' in 2009
1/22/2009 1:03:14 PM | Tennis
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – As the 2009 tennis starts up tomorrow, SU's four freshmen, Victoria Ford, Emily Harman, Allison Haynes and Alessondra Parra will be looked at with a glimpse at SU's third opponent of the weekend, Binghamton University.
The 2009 championship tennis season starts up for the Syracuse women's tennis on Friday, Jan. 23 for a 4 pm match at Colgate. Following the season opener in Hamilton, N.Y., the Orange returns to its home court of the Drumlins Tennis Center for back-to-back matches against Niagara and Binghamton on Saturday, Jan. 24 and Sunday, Jan. 25. Saturday's fray will take place at 1 pm and Sunday's starts at 2:30 pm. Admission is free to anyone who wishes to cheer on the Orange.
Syracuse, under the guidance of head coach Luke Jensen, entertains the Purple Eagles after compiling an 11-14 overall mark in 2008 with an 8-7 record in the BIG EAST. The Orange finished tied for seventh in the conference. SU looks to build upon the momentum it mounted at the end of its regular season after the team defeated four of its last five opponents.
In 2009, Jensen will be joined on the sideline by assistant coach Shelley George and volunteer assistant coach Chuck Wiggins.
Syracuse's six returnees are ready to marshal Jensen's next crop of Orange netters. Jensen is confident his contingent of freshmen will have an immediate impact at the start of the season.
“All great programs come down to the new bees,” Jensen said. “These rookies can play! They will have a massive impact on our season. The transition has been easier than a typical freshmen class because these three women mean business.”
Emily Harman, a three-time doubles champion and two-time singles champion in high school, will call upon her raw athleticism to dominate any foe she faces in her first season. Harman finished her doubles career unblemished (64-0) and lost only one decision in 67 singles matches. She was recognized as the most outstanding female athlete in high school in 2008 and was ranked as high as No. 2 in the USTA Mid-Atlantic U-18 girls’ grouping.
Victoria Ford, another two-time state champion out of high school, brings an array of weapons to the court that will benefit the Orange in the long run. Ford was named the USTA Virginia 2007 Tournament Player of the Year. She compiled a four-year singles’ record of 73-11 and a doubles’ total of 52-9.
Allison Haynes will play for the Orange in familiar surroundings as she was a four-time team MVP for local Westhill High School. Haynes has experienced a taste of leadership after being named team captain in 2007. Haynes’ versatility yielded an undefeated singles record in 2005 and a 21-6 combined total in 2006-07.
Alessondra Parra has made an immediate impact after enrolling in the winter and has earned herself a spot in the starting line-up.
Bringing on Binghamton
•Binghamton went 13-6 record last season and won two matches in the America East Conference
•The Bearcats’ first test will come against Niagara at Drumlins and will then turn right around to face the Orange at 2:30 pm.
•Syracuse and Binghamton did not meet last year.
•Binghamton is lead by sixth-year skipper Mike Stevens and has accrued a 59-31 record.
Syracuse Tennis - Court 1
Friday, March 20
Syracuse Tennis - Court 5
Friday, March 20
Syracuse Tennis - Court 2
Friday, March 20
Syracuse Tennis - Court 6
Friday, March 20
