Heading into this weekend’s matches, Syracuse tennis head coach Luke Jensen was looking for some confidence from CC Sardinha. Jensen was expecting Sardinha, his only freshman, to compete. Perhaps even win.

But not this definitively.

In her first match as part of Jensen’s team, Sardinha dominated Albany’s Sarah Iannone, not giving up a game, to win 6-0, 6-0. Her play over the next two days was strong as well, as she finished the weekend with three victories and no defeats in singles play. Sardinha also won three doubles matches for the weekend.

‘It was her first time out, and to win the doubles, win the singles so convincingly (is impressive),’ Jensen said of Sardinha’s performance. ‘When she’s cheering for a person seven courts away, she’s into it. And that’s the biggest trick for tennis players because it is such an individual sport.’

The SU women’s tennis team won the first three matches of its season this weekend, defeating Albany 7-0 and Big East opponents St. John’s 6-1 and Rutgers 7-0. Each match consisted of six singles matches and three doubles matches. The doubles matches counted for one point in total in each of the matches. SU lost only one of the singles matches over the entire weekend and swept the doubles.

‘It couldn’t have been any better,’ Jensen said. ‘You set up the plan going in and how you want to get better and build. To set the tone like this for our season is very important.’

But the most notable performance of the weekend came thanks to Sardinha. After defeating her two opponents against the Great Danes and the Red Storm on Friday and Saturday, Sardinha played what she considered her best tennis against the Scarlet Knights Sunday. Sardinha defeated Rutgers’ Leonora Slatnick, 6-1, 6-1.

Sardinha felt that she wasn’t the only standout player for the Orange Sunday. She felt the team’s shutout against the Scarlet Knights as a whole was the best SU played all weekend. And after the match concluded, the freshman was quick to acknowledge that.

‘We came here with the attitude that we would beat these guys,’ Sardinha said. ‘We were all prepared for this day and our fitness level is where we need it to be.’

Along with Sardinha, No.1 seed Emily Harman dominated in the season’s opening weekend. Harman benefited from her serve throughout the matches. She tallied multiple aces, proving that her big serve is one of her strongest assets.

Harman proved this weekend that she is getting better at being selective with her serve and placing. Jensen credits it to her rise in maturity as a sophomore. He also realizes that in college tennis a serve can really set a player apart. This weekend, that fact was never more apparent than when Harman played.

Even with Harman’s play, Sardinha’s time on the court stood out more in Jensen’s eyes. Sardinha did, after all, display a composure and maturity similar to a veteran like Harman.

So even if Sardinha isn’t physically where Harman was as a freshman, Jensen is content with one thing. It appears as if it won’t take Sardinha a full season to reach the maturity level Harman exhibited this weekend. In just her first few minutes on the court she remained calm and composed.

For the first weekend, that’s all Jensen could have hoped for.

‘We have a really good team from top to bottom,’ Jensen said. ‘For a freshman to come out in her first match and enjoy what’s going on and win zero-and-zero, it’s a great anchor.’

alguggen@syr.edu