Syracuse defeats Columbia 5-2 behind tight victories

With three competitive matches in a decisive third set, Syracuse needed just one more win to close out the match and gets its revenge on Columbia.

Instead, it got two.

Dina Hegab raced out to a quick 6-1 win in her opening set before dropping the next. The errors started piling up for Hegab, who lost the second 6-2. With two sets split, Hegab found her first-set form, winning the final four games of the match to officially clinch a third-consecutive victory for SU.

A few seconds later, Masha Tritou let out a huge roar. A match that appeared perilous at the latter half of the second set was turned around as Tritou focused more on tennis and less on her arm injury which hampered her performance for much of the first half of the match. Tritou trailed 4-6, 3-4, before receiving treatment during a changeover on her right arm.

After the treatment, she won the final three games of the second set and immediately took control of the decisive set with a 2-0 lead. Tritou went on to win the match 6-1 in the final set.

Syracuse (3-0) continued its winning streak to open the season with a 5-2 home win over Columbia (2-1), a team it lost to 6-1 on the road at the start of last season. While Gabriela Knutson continued her dominance this season, Miranda Ramirez, Hegab and Tritou turned the tables on the Lions after losses last season.

“As a coach, you’re always worried, and you try to see what’s happening on all of the courts,” head coach Younes Limam said. “We knew they weren’t going to go away and that there would be a lot of close matches.”

Knutson set the tone atop both the doubles and singles ladder. First, she partnered with Ramirez in doubles, winning 6-3. Knutson stepped inside the baseline multiple times on the return, thumping backhands down the line and crosscourt. This aggressive return set the tone for Knutson and Ramirez, who took control of the set when they fought off two break points up 4-3 and consolidated the break they earned in the previous game.

After her win in doubles, Knutson rolled over freshman Christie Wan in singles without dropping a game, 6-0 6-0. Last season, Knutson was the only SU player to win in singles.

Ramirez may have had a new opponent, but she remembered last season’s match all too well. Playing second singles last season as well, Ramirez lost 6-4 in the third set. This year, she was determined not to repeat that result.

“I think now I have more experience,” Ramirez said. “We lost to them last year and it really motivated us this year to come out and take over on all of the courts.”

In the first seven games of the match, Ramirez found herself playing right into her opponent’s hands. The two battled through numerous long rallies, and neither player could get the upper hand on the return. After a changeover meeting with associate head coach Shelley George, Ramirez stepped up another gear. With three consecutive forehand winners, Ramirez finally claimed the elusive break of serve at 4-3. She comfortably closed out the set with a hold, dropping only one point in the final service game.

From that point forward, she was in control, moving her opponent Jennifer Kerr all around the court, controlling the match with her feet rarely leaving the baseline. With shorter points, Ramirez won the second set 6-1.

“When coach came over, we talked about it and I started playing more aggressive and more towards the corners,” Ramirez said.

With two easy wins to open the season, Sunday was the first difficult matchup of many to come for SU.  And in its first true test of the season, the Orange passed.