Syracuse blows past UConn 4-0 in Big East tournament opener

Syracuse won its opening-round match against Connecticut on Thursday, 4-0 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament in Tampa, Fla.

The fourth-seeded Orange (13-7, 7-1 Big East) shut out the Huskies (7-11, 2-5 Big East) for the second time this season. The first win came on March 29, a 7-0 win in Hartford.

The win marked the eighth straight conference win for Syracuse. During that stretch SU has won 44 individual matches, while losing just eight.

The Orange won the doubles point behind victories from junior Aleah Marrow and freshman Alex Aiello. The tandem of junior Maddie Kobelt and freshman Brittany Lashway won as well, improving the pair’s record to 10-2 on the season. Both matches ended 8-6.

The Orange didn’t drop a set in singles as Kobelt ended her strong day with a 6-0, 6-1 win in No. 2 singles. Sophomore Amanda Rodgers won next with a 6-2, 6-3 win, and sophomore Jimena Wu ended the match quickly with a 6-2, 6-1 rout.

The win sets up a rematch with DePaul, which beat Providence 4-0 on Thursday.

Earlier in the year on Feb. 24, Syracuse beat DePaul on the road 4-3. At the time DePaul was No. 69. It is the only match in which Syracuse has defeated a ranked team this year. The match came down to a tense final-set tiebreaker for Rodgers.

Friday’s second-round match starts at noon. If Syracuse wins, it will take on the winner of the Notre Dame-Marquette in the semifinals Saturday.

Syracuse has never won a Big East championship, but has now won in the first round in three of the past four seasons.