Anna Shkudun clinches SU’s match against Notre Dame in possible final homestand

UPDATE: April 15, 6:53 p.m.

Anna Shkudun tried to fight off the tears as they streamed down her face. Moments before lineups were announced, she walked alongside coaches Younes Limam and Shelley George and received a standing ovation at Drumlins Country Club. Shkudun couldn’t hide the reality of the afternoon: On Sunday, she would take the court at Syracuse for likely the final time.

In Syracuse’s (15-6, 7-6 Atlantic Coast) 4-0 win over Notre Dame (10-12, 2-10), Shkudun delivered two strong performances to lift the Orange in potentially her final homestand. Following a dominant performance in third doubles with partner Sofya Golubovskaya, she got a singles win to clinch SU a match victory.

“It’s a very tough day for me, personally. These three years have changed my life a lot,” Shkudun said. “I tried not to think that it’s my last home match. I was trying to ignore that and play the ball.”

In doubles, Shkudun took control of the court from the start, frequently stepping inside the baseline and taking balls early. She put away a crosscourt volley to earn the first break for SU, then held comfortably to put the Orange halfway to the finish line in 12 minutes.

With another break point opportunity in the fourth game, Shkudun stepped inside the baseline, smashing the return. The forehand put SU on the offensive and later set up an easy winner from Golubovskaya to earn the double break lead.

Leading 5-0, Shkudun won a long rally by splitting the Notre Dame pair in half, ripping a backhand up the center service line to clinch the shutout, 6-0.

She continued the success in singles, dominating with her serve and forehand, her two favorite shots. Shkudun built up a 5-1 lead until her vision went blurry.

She said something got into her eyes and she couldn’t see clearly for multiple games. The irritation continued until the score was 5-4, when she couldn’t cope any longer. One of the SU trainers came over during the changeover with eye drops and she rinsed her eyes with the saline solution. The improved vision made the difference.

“It’s not a joke but I got something in my eye,” Shkudun said. “I couldn’t see the ball and I couldn’t call the trainer until the changeover.”

After dropping serve the next game, Shkudun regained her composure. She won eight of the final nine points of the set, breaking serve with a forehand passing shot at 5-all, then serving the set out with an ace up the middle.

Shkudun shouted, fist pumped and gazed at Ally Bojczuk across the net.

“I’m always relying on my serve,” Shkudun said. “I like to serve, I feel a big advantage when I do serve.”

Continuing with the rollercoaster of the first set, Shkudun dumped serve in the third game of the second set after back to back winners from Bojczuk. Shkudun grabbed the break immediately thereafter and held serve with a backhand passing shot that caught part of the sideline.

At that point, Shkudun led 3-2 in the second, and the Orange led the duel 3-0. However, SU’s graduate student was the only player of the four remaining with a lead. The Orange needed Shkudun to close out the match with Miranda Ramirez and Golubovskaya entering third sets and Dina Hegab trailing.

Instead of serves, Shkudun used her aggressive returning to break the second set wide open. She allowed herself to get inside the baseline from the opening ball of the rally, forcing Bojczuk to defend. Shkudun even came up towards the service line to hit swinging volley forehand winners. She grabbed back to back breaks, running away with the final set to earn SU’s fourth point.

“It was very fitting, that’s what we told them in the team meeting,” Limam said. “She means a lot to the program I think she took the program to new heights.”

Shkudun and the Orange still have the regular season finale, the ACC tournament, and a likely NCAA appearance to play for this season. But today, Shkudun walked off the court at Drumlins for the final time with flowers, a Syracuse plaque and a smile.