Syracuse Tennis Opens Up ACC Play At Boston College On Saturday
By Samuel Reis | @SamuelReisTV
Citrus TV Tennis Beat Reporter
Six matches are in the books and not much criticism can be thrown Syracuse’s way. The Orange remain undefeated and could not have asked for a better start to the season leading into conference play. While the level of competition has not been particularly stellar up to this point, S.U. has looked quite comfortable against some decent non-conference opponents. With that being said, the biggest tests of the season still await Syracuse in a loaded ACC.
The long awaited start to conference play finally comes to fruition this weekend. The Orange head over 300 miles east to take on Boston College. The Eagles also enter the dual with a good deal of momentum. They boast a 7-1 record and have won six consecutive duals, including back-to-back 7-0 victories against Stonehill and Boston University.
Despite the impressive starts from both programs, it is worth noting that last year Syracuse finished 4-9 in conference play while Boston College went 3-10. Simply put, the ACC is a different animal. In a conference that sent eight teams to the NCAA Tournament last season, it is vital for both teams to take advantage of a strong start in non-conference action to get in the win column on Saturday.
Looking back at last season’s meeting between the two teams, the Orange prevailed in a 4-3 nail biter at Drumlins. For Syracuse, six of the seven players who took part in that dual will take the court on Saturday. In fact, the six players who played singles in last season’s matchup make up this year’s roster. For Boston College, five of the eight players on its current roster were in that dual. It is safe to say there is plenty of familiarity between the two opponents.
If there is one player to pinpoint for the Eagles, it has to be Marice Aguiar. The junior has been untouchable in singles, winning all eight of her matches. The Puerto Rican native is ranked 117th in the country in the latest ITA singles rankings. This will mark the first of many nationally ranked players that S.U. goes up against this season. In all likelihood, it will be Miyuka Kimoto from Syracuse going head-to-head with Aguiar in #1 singles.
The Orange might not have a freshman on their roster, but the Eagles have a couple. One in particular could cause Syracuse some issues. That player is Seren Agar. Just like Aguiar, the New Jersey native has an undefeated record in singles play. The freshman began the season playing #6 singles, but quickly got elevated due to her impressive play. She has recently played #3 and #4 singles. A potential matchup with Polina Kozyreva would be very intriguing considering Kozyreva is also undefeated in singles for S.U.
The only loss Boston College suffered this season came at Harvard in a close 4-3 decision. That means the Eagles are yet to lose at home. On Saturday, Syracuse aims to end that streak. Make sure to follow my twitter @SamuelReisTV for all of the updates from the dual as I make the trip to Beantown. First serve is slated for 5 p.m.
