Syracuse Hits the Road For Tough Test Against Georgia Tech

By Yaw Bonsu

CitrusTV’s Tennis Beat Reporter

ATLANTA – Syracuse (4-8, 3-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) is back in action to take on No. 11 Georgia Tech (12-8, 5-4 ACC) on Friday down in the Peach State. The Orange are looking to snap a five-game losing streak.

SU will need to put together its best performance of the season in order to knock off Georgia Tech, who has proven to hold its own in what has been the best conference in college tennis.

Leading the front for the Yellow Jackets is Kenya Jones. The senior has done it all, and her trophy case can confirm that.

Jones has been an ITA All-American for the past three seasons, including three ACC Player of the Week nods last year. She is the No. 13 ranked player in the country for a reason, and this year its been no different.

Jones is 13-6 in the No. 1 singles spot this season with wins over No.2 Estela Perez-Somarriba, No. 4 Sara Daavettila and No. 8 Kelly Chen.

Dominance is the word to describe how Kenya Jones has been this season and that includes doubles play as well.

Along with her partner Victoria Flores, Jones has taken down her fair share of ranked opponents in that regard too, highlighted by a win over the No. 2 doubles pair in the country in Anna Rogers and Alana Smith.

The largest difference between the Orange and Yellow Jackets is how consistent one coach is versus another.

GT head coach Rodney Harmon puts his trust in Kenya Jones to go out there and perform at the highest level. You cannot say the same about SU Head Coach Younes Limam who, as he has done all-season, flip-flops lineups in hopes are sparking wins.

Clearly, with the current losing streak, that has not been the case.

Other names to watch for on Georgia Tech include Victoria Flores. The senior plays in the No. 2 singles spot and as an All-American ITA nod in doubles play herself. In addition to that, the Yellow Jackets boast junior Cohen who rounds out the top-three singles spots for GT.

Cohen is 3-6 in singles play this season.

Georgia Tech looks to bounce back against the Orange after dropping its last dual versus No. 15 Virginia.

ybonsu@citrustv.net | @yawbonsu27