Spring Break
The Daily OrangeTEN | Doubles duo of Jones, Spicer drive Orange to crucial win
By Jeff Westfall
Posted: 3/30/08, 11:55 PM EST Section: Sports
A triumphant scream rose above the Drumlins Tennis Center on Saturday. In unison, the eyes of the standing-room-only crowd darted toward the far court in time to see Ashley Spicer celebrate going up 7-4 in her and Chelsea Jones' doubles match against visiting St. John's.
With a yell and a fist-pump she ripped a ball from her pocket and bounced it violently toward the tarp walls of Drumlins.
The Orange (9-11, 6-4) captured its third straight victory Saturday in a 4-3 win over the Red Storm (3-10, 1-3). Behind the tandem of Spicer and Jones, Syracuse continued its late-season push to get into the Big East tournament.
"They are a complete two lightning bolts that go out there and play with a lot of positive energy and have a lot of explosive power," SU head coach Luke Jensen said. "They play our style, which is an aggressive net style. I love that about them."
Spicer and Jones accounted for three of the four points that SU earned in Saturday's victory, including a hard-fought doubles match that swung the doubles point in SU's favor. After jumping out to an early 6-1 lead over the visiting duo of Gabi Gasiunaite and Emily Barnett, Spicer and Jones surrendered three consecutive games to the Red Storm.
With the doubles point hinging upon the outcome of their match, Spicer and Jones fought back and put an exclamation point on the pivotal game as an emphatic spike by Spicer dropped into the corner of the Red Storm's court.
"We were up 6-1, and we let them back into it, obviously being up 7-4 vs. 6-5 is a huge difference," Spicer said. "It was definitely important for us to shift the momentum and keep up intensity."
The momentum from that doubles win would resonate with Spicer and Jones as they ventured into their own respective singles matches. Spicer made quick work of her opponent, Gasiunaite, in straight sets (6-1, 6-1). Sporting a compression sleeve to help nurse a sore right elbow, Spicer tallied her fourth consecutive singles victory. Both Spicer and Jensen attributed her win in large part to her improved serve.
With a yell and a fist-pump she ripped a ball from her pocket and bounced it violently toward the tarp walls of Drumlins.
The Orange (9-11, 6-4) captured its third straight victory Saturday in a 4-3 win over the Red Storm (3-10, 1-3). Behind the tandem of Spicer and Jones, Syracuse continued its late-season push to get into the Big East tournament.
"They are a complete two lightning bolts that go out there and play with a lot of positive energy and have a lot of explosive power," SU head coach Luke Jensen said. "They play our style, which is an aggressive net style. I love that about them."
Spicer and Jones accounted for three of the four points that SU earned in Saturday's victory, including a hard-fought doubles match that swung the doubles point in SU's favor. After jumping out to an early 6-1 lead over the visiting duo of Gabi Gasiunaite and Emily Barnett, Spicer and Jones surrendered three consecutive games to the Red Storm.
With the doubles point hinging upon the outcome of their match, Spicer and Jones fought back and put an exclamation point on the pivotal game as an emphatic spike by Spicer dropped into the corner of the Red Storm's court.
"We were up 6-1, and we let them back into it, obviously being up 7-4 vs. 6-5 is a huge difference," Spicer said. "It was definitely important for us to shift the momentum and keep up intensity."
The momentum from that doubles win would resonate with Spicer and Jones as they ventured into their own respective singles matches. Spicer made quick work of her opponent, Gasiunaite, in straight sets (6-1, 6-1). Sporting a compression sleeve to help nurse a sore right elbow, Spicer tallied her fourth consecutive singles victory. Both Spicer and Jensen attributed her win in large part to her improved serve.
Be the first to comment on this story