The score was 7-6 in the last doubles match, and SU had already secured the doubles point. But you couldn’t tell from Maddie Kobelt and Aleah Marrow’s demeanor.

All eyes were on the court of the No. 1 doubles match. After going up 3-0, Kobelt and Marrow struggled to keep their early lead, and it came down to 7-6 where the Orange needed one last game to sweep the doubles matches.

West Virginia didn’t score another point.

Kobelt and Marrow won four straight to close out the doubles matches, setting the tone for a long day for the Mountaineers.

“We just wanted to close it out, don’t give them a chance,” Marrow said. “We did that, kept the momentum, kept them on their heels and just pushed them down from there.”

Syracuse (2-5, 0-1 Big East) put on another dominant performance against West Virginia (1-2), winning 6-1 at Drumlins on Saturday. The score did not depict the hardships Syracuse went through for the win. Three different SU players won singles sets 7-5. It was the kind of win that tells head coach Luke Jensen his team is developing a winning culture and displaying the toughness he wants in his team.

“We really stress that word, ‘toughness,’” Jensen said. “It’s going to come down to one or two moments. And if you have that toughness, that extra gear, that resilience… ”

In matches that may come down to one game, as Kobelt and Marrow’s did, that toughness is required. The players pride themselves on delivering a competitive energy in every match.

There are repercussions for not bringing that competitive fire.

“If you don’t have that type of energy, there will be discipline,” Marrow said, “so you definitely want to bring the Orange energy.”

It was noticeable throughout the match Saturday. Reserve players cheered on the team from the sidelines, players mid-match shouted encouragement to each other, court to court. No more than 30 seconds would pass before a player would holler, “Let’s go ‘Cuse!” with a chorus of players immediately responding, “Let’s go Orange!”

It’s part of Jensen’s philosophy in transitioning high school students, some of who didn’t play high school tennis, to become members of a team. Jensen is attempting to infuse a sense of camaraderie within the team in a highly individualized sport.

“For the most part, you’re teaching them the culture of what it’s like to be part of our Orange nation, our Orange energy and what it means to be a part of a team,” Jensen said. “When you’re on one court and five or six courts down your teammate’s playing for your point, for your win.”

In the closing match of the day, Sophia Dzulynsky played to a 6-4, 7-5 SU victory. Rather than thinking about their own obligations, the Orange players surrounded Dzulynsky and cheered her on, finishing with the same energy evident throughout the entire match.

Said Jensen: “This team is extremely talented and our best tennis is down the road.”

Published on February 4, 2013 at 1:02 am

Contact Danny: dacuneo@syr.edu