Gabriela Knutson sprinted to the net against Columbia Sunday to smash a volley, but her potential winner went straight into the net.

Despite dropping the point, Knutson smiled, and as the ball rolled back to her, she hit it playfully again into the net. Knutson turned to her doubles partner, Miranda Ramirez, and they both laughed, up 5-1.

Last year, Knutson and Ramirez established themselves as one of the top doubles pairings in the nation, finishing the season ranked No. 8. But even with their high ranking, the two thought they weren’t aggressive or experienced enough to maintain their success. After a shaky fall season, the two spent practices after winter break trying to extend their doubles rhythm together.

“We just lost because we didn’t have that experience,” Knutson said. “Now, knowing what we did wrong in those matches will help us.”

Knutson and Ramirez have been doubles partners since Ramirez joined SU in 2017. Last season, the pairing was inconsistent at times, and dropped four straight matches at one point. But against then-No. 3 Georgia Tech last year, Ramirez and Knutson defeated the No. 1 doubles team in the nation, helping their ranking rise.

Knutson is the more outgoing of the two, and she can bring out the intensity in the usually-reserved Ramirez. But when Knutson becomes frustrated, Ramirez helps her refocus.

“For me and her, we need to laugh on the court,” Knutson said. “If we’re there just being sad and just sunken, we will not win, no matter what.”

This year, Knutson and Ramirez want to stay more positive in the beginning of their matches leading to more early aggression. In their first matchup this season, Knutson and Ramirez struggled against Brown’s No. 1 doubles team on Saturday. There were times when Knutson missed chances and threw out her arms. But only one match in, Ramirez comforted her in between points in the eventual 7-5 win.

“She (Ramirez) can help me really quickly get back to where I should be,” Knutson said. “I can help her. So as soon as I start beating myself up, she’s right there to support me, so I love that about our team.”

Syracuse has new additions in Guzal Yusupova and Sofya Treshcheva to round out their doubles pairings — something they lacked last year. Trescheva slots in second doubles with Sofya Golubovskaya, and Yusupova plays alongside Dina Hegab. With more depth in doubles, less pressure is put on Knutson and Ramirez to carry the load.

In the fall, Knutson and Ramirez were split up at times. In doubles, Knutson was 5-6 in the fall and Ramirez was 1-5. But Limam wasn’t worried, even after their shaky first match.

On Sunday, the pair cruised past Columbia’s Christie Wan and Jennifer Kerr. After dropping the first game, Knutson and Ramirez rattled off six straight en route to a 6-1 victory and eventual doubles point for the Orange. They attacked early, and Knutson finished with numerous volley winners and strong baseline ground strokes that forced errors.

“We were a bit more relaxed, I was personally, and Miranda and I were,” Knutson said after SU’s win against Columbia. “It’s the second match, and we got into a rhythm, and I think that really helps.”

Knutson and Ramirez aren’t lacking confidence after their inconsistent first weekend of the season at doubles. With their struggles last season and this fall, they’ve moved on, Ramirez said, and have realized that “a few tough draws” won’t affect them in the future.

“We got to a point where we had a really high ranking,” Ramirez said. “We know we can easily get back there.”

Published on January 22, 2019 at 10:47 pm

Contact Arabdho: armajumd@syr.edu | @aromajumder