The last three Syracuse matches all started the same — winning in doubles. They all ended the same, too, with the Orange shutting out its opponents.

The theme and streak continued in SU’s 7-0 rout of Army on Wednesday, largely thanks to its dominance in doubles.

“It’s huge,” Amanda Rodgers said. “Every time we win the doubles point, we usually win.”

Top-seeded doubles pair Maddie Kobelt and Brittany Lashway won 8-1. In six matches, Kobelt and Lashway are 6-0 together. The second-seeded pairing of Komal Safdar and Rodgers won 8-3, and third-seeded pair Aleah Marrow and Alex Aiello won 8-2.

Lashway is Kobelt’s second partner of the season, and while the teammate has changed, the winning ways have not. Kobelt debuted with Lashway on Feb. 17 against Pittsburgh.

The chemistry between them has developed into a potent combination.

“We just have a lot of fun out there, we giggle,” Kobelt said. “She’s a good person out there, always has a positive attitude, always puts a smile on my face. So it kind of takes the stress away.”

It is indicative of a change in the Orange’s season. SU lost its first five matches of the season, coming away with zero doubles points in the process. But since then, SU has dominated doubles.

SU has won eight of the nine matches in which its won the doubles point. In its last three matches, Syracuse has not lost a single doubles match.

Both players and coaches agree that the doubles point is crucial in jumpstarting the team match. Playing well early in the team match establishes a momentum that carries into singles.

“It definitely does, especially if you play well in doubles, then you kind of roll into singles playing well,” Rodgers said.

Statistically, the importance is proven, too.

“Statistically, 82 percent of the time, if you win that doubles point, you’re going to win the match,” head coach Luke Jensen said.

The first two doubles pairings have been a constant the entire season. Where doubt lingers is in No. 3 doubles.

“We’re winning it down there, but we haven’t found gold like we have in one doubles that’s undefeated, two doubles is undefeated,” Jensen said.

Marrow and Aiello stepped into the role against Army and won emphatically. But the spot may not be theirs for long. Players like Jimena Wu and Sophia Dzulynsky, both scratches from today’s lineup, have appeared in the third doubles spot.

Jensen said he plans on playing both Dzulynsky and Wu there, still searching for the winning combination that has been established in first and second doubles.

Said Jensen: “I don’t have three doubles teams I have to make up, I really just have to find one right before the (Big East) tournament starts.”

Published on March 28, 2013 at 2:07 am

Contact Danny: dacuneo@syr.edu