Orange Set To Charge Red Storm In BIG EAST Tournament First Round

With less than 24 hours until the 2011 BIG EAST Tournament kicks off in South Bend, Ind., the Orange is preparing to take on conference foe St. John's in first round action. The match is slated for a 9 a.m. start at Courtney Tennis Center. After winning its final three regular season matches, Syracuse is looking to peak at the right time and play its best tennis this week.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – With less than 24 hours until the 2011 BIG EAST Tournament kicks off in South Bend, Ind., the Orange is preparing to take on conference foe St. John's in first round action. The match is slated for a 9 a.m. start at Courtney Tennis Center. After winning its final three regular season matches, Syracuse is looking to peak at the right time and play its best tennis this week.

The Syracuse tennis team finished the regular season with an overall record of 16-6, including an 8-1 mark in BIG EAST Conference play. The Orange constructed its second consecutive undefeated season on its home court, extending its win streak at Drumlins Tennis Center to 23 straight victories. SU's streak dates back to Feb. 22, 2009, when Syracuse lost a 4-3 match to Iowa State.

The Orange will compete on the road for the remainder of the season. SU has gone 6-6 this season away from the friendly confines of Drumlins, but the BIG EAST Tournament will provide an opportunity for SU to wipe its slate clean and compete for its first conference title since 1985.

A Look At St. John's
The Orange took on St. John’s earlier this season, emerging with a perfect 7-0 victory. The Red Storm will enter the matchup with a record of 9-9 overall and 4-2 in conference action.

Syracuse In The BIG EAST Tournament
In the 2010 BIG EAST Tournament, SU defeated Marquette, 4-3, before coming up short to eventual champion Notre Dame in the second round. Since head coach Luke Jensen took over at the helm of the program, the Orange's success at the conference tournament as continued to grow. In 2008 and '09, SU tied for seventh place and improved that mark in 2010, finishing in a tie for third. Syracuse has captured three BIG EAST Championships in program history in 1982, 1984 and 1985.

Orange In National Rankings
Syracuse boasts the only ranked players in the first round matchup in the No. 55 doubles pair of junior Emily Harman and freshman Maddie Kobelt. The duo has a record of 17-3 when teaming up at the No. 1 doubles spot this season. Harman and Kobelt has also excelled in singles play Harman is 14-6, playing at the No. 1 singles position for the latter half of the season, while Kobelt is 16-6, at both the No. 2 and No. 3 spots.

Jensen Approaching Another Coaching Milestone
Head Coach Luke Jensen owns a 74-39 overall record. A win against the Red Storm would propel him to the 75-win milestone as SU's head coach.