SU Tennis Thrashes Colgate in 7-0 Sweep

Business as usual for Syracuse tennis as they continue to dominate in the early going of the season. Citrus TV Beat Reporter Gill Gross examines the Orange’s early season scheduling.

It only took one game for Miranda Ramirez to glide a clean, left-handed backhand winner down the line. The sophomore elegantly held her follow through in place.

In SU’s first match of the season, against Niagara, Ramirez was held out of the lineup to rest. On Friday, she took to the court in full force, defeating Colgate’s Lauren O’Brien 6-0, 6-1 in singles. As well as pairing up with Gabriela Knutson in a 6-1 win at first doubles. It was all part of a 7-0 sweep for the Orange over cross-state rival Colgate.

Knutson and Ramirez are currently the ranked No. 16 doubles team in the country. They will be integral to the Orange’s ability to win this season. The paring went 9-7 at first doubles last season and are poised to do even better this season.

“We’ve definitely been focusing on the small things we did wrong last semester,” Knutson said. “But I think we’re starting to fix those. And unless we backtrack I think we’ll have a great semester.”

The Orange has littered the box score with 6-0 and 6-1 sets in both of its matches thus far. This is in sharp contrast to last season, in which Syracuse opened with a 4-3 match victory followed by five straight losses. Head Coach Younes Limam said he wanted an easier non-conference schedule this season.

“At the beginning of the season it’s important to get some wins,” Limam said. “Some confidence under your belt before you start facing the tough competition.”

The players seem to be on-board with coach Limam’s thinking.

“I definitely am (a fan of the scheduling),” Knutson said. “I think we’re all very happy right now. It puts us in a good mindset,” said Knutson.

Sofya Golubovskaya and Libi Mesh cruised in their doubles matchup, winning 6-0 at third doubles.

SU will likely receive its first tough test on Sunday when Columbia comes to Drumlins Country Club. Columbia handed the Orange its first defeat of the 2017 season, a 1-4 loss in Manhattan.

“That was a very bad day,” Knutson said of last year’s loss, “the whole team was kind of sad and it was just an off day… We’re a much better team this year.”

A win against the Lions would give Syracuse a substantial injection of confidence. First ball is set for 11 a.m.