Head coach Younes Limam says it’s simply a coincidence. Through 10 matches in Atlantic Coast Conference play, Syracuse has yet to earn a point at the fourth singles spot.

But Limam isn’t putting much stock into that pattern.

“My personal opinion is that there isn’t much difference between any of the spots, especially against the deeper teams,” he said. “Everybody can play, and those are just numbers. We really don’t look at that.”

Typically, the singles ladder is constructed from the strongest player at No. 1 singles to the weakest player at No. 6. Limam has spent much of this season experimenting with the Orange’s (7-9, 2-8 ACC) fourth spot, rotating different players in and out of it. Seniors Komal Safdar and Breanna Bachini have played there the most for the Orange and both are 0-5 there in ACC play.

But like her coach, Safdar says the team’s string of losses at fourth singles has occurred by chance.

“We have lost matches at that spot,” she said. “But I wouldn’t say that’s a spot that’s harder to win for any particular reason.”

Safdar has had success elsewhere in the lineup, namely at No. 5 singles. It’s a spot she feels more confident playing at than she does at No. 4, although she added the two spots are very similar.

“The five spot works especially well for me… ” Safdar said. “A lot of times, when you have the top players in the lineup, they’re very good at attacking with the first shots. And for me, I like to develop the point. Sometimes it’s hard to do that against very hard hitters.”

Safdar has won three of her five matches at the fifth singles spot in conference play. She most recently beat Louisville’s Chloe Willetts in straight sets on March 27. She also won matches against Pittsburgh’s Katherine Castro on March 1 and Duke’s Rebecca Smaller on March 8.

At No. 5 singles, Safdar typically faces freshmen and sophomores. She says being an upperclassman works in her favor in the matches.

“Just taking that Duke match for example — was I the better player? I’m not sure,” she said. “But I do know that I was a better competitor than her that day, just because of the maturity.”

Safdar hasn’t held that same advantage at No. 4 singles, a spot where she’s played two juniors and a senior in her ACC matches. And she isn’t the only one who’s struggled at that spot. So has Bachini, who despite having won matches this season at No. 5 singles is also winless in five attempts at No. 4 in ACC play.

But whereas Safdar gains extra confidence playing at the fifth singles spot, Bachini has said she doesn’t mind facing tougher competition.

“We’re expected to play these kind of teams and players,” Bachini said. “We’ve been training for it.”

Training for these matches or not, the fact remains that Syracuse hasn’t won at the fourth singles spot. But Limam said he believes Bachini and Safdar can reverse that trend.

“They have had success during the year,” Limam said. “That hasn’t happened at the four spot. Hopefully we can turn it around.”

Published on April 7, 2015 at 11:16 pm

Contact Michael: mdburk01@syr.edu