Tennis Takes Down Top Teams In 2014
5/30/2014 11:07:00 AM | Tennis
Final Match Notes | Final Statistics
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Entering the daunting Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014, which lays claim to one of the best – if not the best – leagues for women's tennis, Syracuse held its own and produced one of its most successful campaigns in program history when it comes to quality wins.
Syracuse (5-15, 5-9 ACC) navigated its way through its toughest slate in school history, playing 18 of its 20 matches against teams ranked by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, including eight in the top-25 and three in the top-10. Of the 20 matches on the year, 12 came against 2014 NCAA Tournament participants, with six of those against teams that advanced to the "Sweet 16."
Despite winning just five matches, all of which came in the ACC, SU set a program-record with four wins against competition ranked in the top-75 by the ITA, including the squad's second win against a top-25 team since at least 2000.
The Orange struggled to start the season, dropping its first seven matches, including all five in non-conference action. Although falling in its inaugural ACC match at NC State, the Orange showed it had turned a page in its one-point setback.
Returning to campus a week later for its home opener, where the Orange has been exceptional since interim head coach Shelley George began her tenure with the program in 2007, SU finally broke through for its first win of the season, upsetting nationally-ranked No. 48 Virginia Tech, 5-2. Following the match, George said, "I think we needed to come home and play in front of our fans and play where we feel comfortable."
In a four-week span, the Orange was playing its best tennis, going 3-2 with the aforementioned win against Virginia Tech and victories against No. 25 Florida State and No. 34 Boston College, all coming in the friendly confines of Drumlins Tennis Center. The win against FSU helped propel 'Cuse into the ITA rankings for the first time all season, coming in at No. 60, while rising to a season-high 59th after the match against Boston College. That began a run of eight straight weeks in the polls, the second longest streak in school history behind a 12-week stint that lasted from Feb. 28, 2012 to the initial poll of 2013 on Jan. 3.
Syracuse will return all but two student-athletes from its 2014 roster, however, will have a big void to fill with the departure of Maddie Kobelt. The four-year starter was an All-ACC Second Team selection and was ACC Player of the Week on March 11. Kobelt became the most recent member of the Century Club, posting her 100th career victory less than a month later. Finishing her senior season with a 14-24 overall record, Kobelt notched four wins against ranked opponents, two in singles and two in doubles.
Kobelt's doubles partner Valeria Salazar, put together a solid rookie campaign, as one of three freshmen to see significant playing time. Salazar led the team with 16 wins – eight from fourth singles and eight from first doubles. Her and Kobelt spent the final three weeks in the ITA doubles rankings, climbing to 38th in the most recent poll released on May 1 following a pair of wins against top-12 tandems. The ranking of 38 is just six spots lower than the school record of 32, achieved by Kobelt and former partner Emily Harman from 2011. The duo of Salazar and Kobelt narrowly missed earning a berth into the NCAA doubles bracket, serving as the first alternate when play began.
Juniors Amanda Rodgers, Komal Safdar and Breanna Bachini will all return to the mix in 2015 and look to improve upon their 2014 seasons. Rodgers spent the majority of the season at second singles while Safdar posted a 7-8 record at sixth singles. The two teamed up to go 4-6 in doubles action as well. Bachini missed the bulk of the season with an injury.
In the wake of Bachini's injury and a season-ending injury to Aleah Marrow two weeks into the season, freshmen Rhiann Newborn and Maria Avgerinos picked up the slack. Newborn played everywhere between second and fifth singles, tallying a 5-7 record out of the third position, including a win over the 47th-ranked player in the country. Avgerinos contributed three wins in her rookie campaign, all coming from fifth singles.
With a challenging first season in the ACC out of the way, the Orange will look to continue its success against top teams next year with the majority of the roster back and ready to go.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Entering the daunting Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014, which lays claim to one of the best – if not the best – leagues for women's tennis, Syracuse held its own and produced one of its most successful campaigns in program history when it comes to quality wins.
Syracuse (5-15, 5-9 ACC) navigated its way through its toughest slate in school history, playing 18 of its 20 matches against teams ranked by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, including eight in the top-25 and three in the top-10. Of the 20 matches on the year, 12 came against 2014 NCAA Tournament participants, with six of those against teams that advanced to the "Sweet 16."
Despite winning just five matches, all of which came in the ACC, SU set a program-record with four wins against competition ranked in the top-75 by the ITA, including the squad's second win against a top-25 team since at least 2000.
The Orange struggled to start the season, dropping its first seven matches, including all five in non-conference action. Although falling in its inaugural ACC match at NC State, the Orange showed it had turned a page in its one-point setback.
Returning to campus a week later for its home opener, where the Orange has been exceptional since interim head coach Shelley George began her tenure with the program in 2007, SU finally broke through for its first win of the season, upsetting nationally-ranked No. 48 Virginia Tech, 5-2. Following the match, George said, "I think we needed to come home and play in front of our fans and play where we feel comfortable."
In a four-week span, the Orange was playing its best tennis, going 3-2 with the aforementioned win against Virginia Tech and victories against No. 25 Florida State and No. 34 Boston College, all coming in the friendly confines of Drumlins Tennis Center. The win against FSU helped propel 'Cuse into the ITA rankings for the first time all season, coming in at No. 60, while rising to a season-high 59th after the match against Boston College. That began a run of eight straight weeks in the polls, the second longest streak in school history behind a 12-week stint that lasted from Feb. 28, 2012 to the initial poll of 2013 on Jan. 3.
Syracuse will return all but two student-athletes from its 2014 roster, however, will have a big void to fill with the departure of Maddie Kobelt. The four-year starter was an All-ACC Second Team selection and was ACC Player of the Week on March 11. Kobelt became the most recent member of the Century Club, posting her 100th career victory less than a month later. Finishing her senior season with a 14-24 overall record, Kobelt notched four wins against ranked opponents, two in singles and two in doubles.
Kobelt's doubles partner Valeria Salazar, put together a solid rookie campaign, as one of three freshmen to see significant playing time. Salazar led the team with 16 wins – eight from fourth singles and eight from first doubles. Her and Kobelt spent the final three weeks in the ITA doubles rankings, climbing to 38th in the most recent poll released on May 1 following a pair of wins against top-12 tandems. The ranking of 38 is just six spots lower than the school record of 32, achieved by Kobelt and former partner Emily Harman from 2011. The duo of Salazar and Kobelt narrowly missed earning a berth into the NCAA doubles bracket, serving as the first alternate when play began.
Juniors Amanda Rodgers, Komal Safdar and Breanna Bachini will all return to the mix in 2015 and look to improve upon their 2014 seasons. Rodgers spent the majority of the season at second singles while Safdar posted a 7-8 record at sixth singles. The two teamed up to go 4-6 in doubles action as well. Bachini missed the bulk of the season with an injury.
In the wake of Bachini's injury and a season-ending injury to Aleah Marrow two weeks into the season, freshmen Rhiann Newborn and Maria Avgerinos picked up the slack. Newborn played everywhere between second and fifth singles, tallying a 5-7 record out of the third position, including a win over the 47th-ranked player in the country. Avgerinos contributed three wins in her rookie campaign, all coming from fifth singles.
With a challenging first season in the ACC out of the way, the Orange will look to continue its success against top teams next year with the majority of the roster back and ready to go.
Syracuse Tennis - Court 3
Sunday, March 15
Syracuse Tennis - Court 5
Sunday, March 15
Syracuse Tennis - Court 1
Sunday, March 15
Syracuse Tennis - Court 2
Sunday, March 15
