The match was over, and Emily Harman and Maddie Kobelt walked past each other while closing the courts. Without saying a word, the two slapped hands and continued on their ways.

It was an action that wouldn’t normally induce a second glance. But this moment was memorable because of the teammates involved.

Harman and Kobelt’s relationship goes beyond the typical bond of teammates. The two are doubles partners and often compete against each other in practices.

‘As soon as we walk into this building, we put everything on the court,’ Harman said. ‘As soon as we walk out, we leave it on the court. We compete, we fight, it’s feisty, it’s intense. But at the end, we shake hands and we’re good.’

Against Cincinnati on Sunday, the pair put on a show. Harman defeated her opponent in straight sets, 6-3 and 6-1, and Kobelt did the same, winning 6-0 and 7-6(3). Additionally, they teamed up to win the No. 1 doubles match 8-4.

The junior Harman is the No. 2 singles player, and the freshman Kobelt is No. 3 — for this weekend at least. For the first five matches of the season, Kobelt manned the second spot, logging a 3-2 record. Harman went 4-1 in the third spot.

Last Tuesday — just like every Tuesday — SU coach Luke Jensen held his ‘competition practice.’ Each week, the players must win to hold their position. When Harman took down Kobelt on Tuesday, she earned her spot at the No. 2 position.

‘They understand that every practice matters,’ Jensen said. ‘When Tuesday comes up, we’re going to be challenging once again. … And they’re competing better when it counts, because that’s the environment we’re in all the time.’

However, it isn’t the change in position that matters. Each position only earns one point, so the players know it isn’t the position they play but how they play it. These competition matches do just what they sound like: test one’s will to win.

The players look forward to the Tuesday competitions, Jensen said. They recognize their importance and enter competition matches with the same mentality they have for matches against opponents.

‘I walk out on the court, and I want to win the match that’s in front of me,’ Harman said. ‘And that includes challenge matches as well. In terms of playing the higher lineup, I have experience there, I’m comfortable there.

‘It’s just a different court, that’s it. It’s still a point for my team.’

The switch in positions worked out perfectly this weekend. Kobelt is now 6-2 in singles play this year, while her counterpart, Harman, is 6-1. Together, they’ve recorded a 5-2 record when teaming up in doubles play.

Kobelt had to work a bit harder for her victory Sunday. In the second set of Sunday’s match, Kobelt lost consecutive games to go down 4-3. But she managed to bounce back to force and eventually win a tiebreaker.

‘In the second set, I made a couple more errors, and she started to feel her game a little bit more,’ Kobelt said. ‘It was really just weathering the storm, being more precise with my shots and being more patient, waiting for the right shot to capitalize on.’

The freshman had to work for the victory. In Jensen’s system, hard work is the only way to succeed.

Harman has been through the trials and tribulations of working two full seasons and knows how beneficial the effort is. However, even for her, there is no letup. All the players have to work for what they want, no matter what they’ve already proved.

‘She has a lot of pride,’ Jensen said. ‘She’s played the top spot for the last couple years, and it’s something that she has to earn. Nothing’s going to be given to her, and she’s finding better tennis to get there.’

sebail01@syr.edu

Published on February 15, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Stephen: sebail01@syr.edu | @Stephen_Bailey1