An outstretched Gabriela Knutson couldn’t muscle the ball over the net. In the final point of her match filled with draining, double-digit rallies against Estela Perez-Somarriba, her short chip shot on the left side of the court ended it.

Knutson didn’t slap her leg, swing her racket or mutter to herself. Points before, she did. This time, she smiled. As she strolled back to her bench, the applause continued and the smile remained. It was Knutson’s last match of her Drumlins Country Club career, a 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (9-7) loss to No. 2 Perez-Somarriba.

“I left my heart and soul out there,” Knutson said. “I’m not sad that I lost, because I know there’s nothing more I could have done.”

On Sunday, No. 30 Syracuse (12-9, 5-7 Atlantic Coast) honored its four seniors — Dina Hegab, Masha Tritou, Libi Mesh and Knutson — before their final home match, a 5-2 loss to No. 27 Miami (14-6, 7-5). Led by Knutson, the group totaled 437 career wins and led SU to 52 dual match victories, forging a new foundation for the program. On Sunday, despite its third loss in four matches, Syracuse’s seniors added on.

“It’s very safe to say the reason why SU tennis is where it is today is because of them,” SU head coach Younes Limam said. “They deserve everything they’ve earned.”

Together, the four seniors led Syracuse to places the program had never been. They produced a top-10 doubles pair, historic wins and an ITA National Indoor Championship appearance. They make up half the depth that Limam prided on the entire season. Half the depth that turned SU from middle-of-the-pack contender into a national threat. Half the depth that carried Syracuse to its highest ranking in program history, No. 10, earlier this season.

Earlier in the day, volunteer assistant coach Len Lopoo told the senior Knutson that she “always gets the opposing team’s biggest punch.” For the majority of the last three seasons, Knutson slotted against other top singles players. Time and time again, she held her own. Quickly, she became one of the best by “punching them too,” Knutson said. Perez-Somarriba lost only one match the entire season.

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Less than an hour after Knutson won her final home doubles match with partner Miranda Ramirez, she locked with Perez-Somarriba in a back-and-forth match. Already down a break after the first two games, Knutson overcame two double faults to cut the lead. Six games later, she had the lead. Knutson blazed winners down the line, forced defensive lobs from Perez-Somarriba and dropped to one knee at times, ensuring angles didn’t result in low rallies hitting net.

Knutson failed to close out the set, and Perez-Somarriba took advantage in the tiebreak. A double fault and two mis-hit forehand rallies never allowed Knutson to gain control.

Back and forth rallies ensued, but an hour later, Knutson trailed 6-2 in the second-set tiebreak, and found the end of her Drumlins career near. Then came two winners that painted opposite baselines that followed consecutive overhead smashes. After the second winner, a backhand shot that brushed the corner, Limam jumped off the bench and pumped his fist. Knutson shouted the loudest “mine” of the match. Two points later, the applause continued, but reality set in.

Two hours before the match began, a buzz started to fill the Drumlins lobby. Members asked one another if they were going to be at “the big game.” One told Mesh when she arrived that “I drove 400 kilometers to watch you play.” On senior day, only one other graduating player — Hegab — won. Tritou nearly executed a comeback, but fell short. Mesh never controlled her match, and lost in straight sets.

But on senior day, the four reminded hundreds of fans what they did for Syracuse tennis. After their matches finished, they embraced opponents, dabbed eyes and faces with towels, and posed for pictures. Over an hour later, they strolled out of Drumlins for the last time. They picked up their flowers, plaques and bags, and walked across the courts. Four years after they won their first home match, it was suddenly over.

“A lot of emotions that go into it during senior day,” Limam said. “Other things besides the forehand and the backhand that plays a little bit of a factor there too.

Published on April 7, 2019 at 6:44 pm

Contact Andrew: arcrane@syr.edu | @CraneAndrew