It can almost feel the hot Miami sun beating on them already, and it’ll be upset if it doesn’t get to experience the real thing.

The Syracuse tennis team faces Army and St. John’s in West Point this weekend in its final two meets of the regular season. The Orangewomen don’t just want to end their season on a positive note, they want to extend it by earning a bid to the Big East Tournament in Coral Gables, Fla.

‘I’m pumped,’ senior Shervin Saedinia said. ‘If we beat St. John’s, (I think) we’re going to the Big East for sure. But if we lose to them, we might not go to Miami.’

Nothing is a lock for the Orangewomen, though. Selection for the Big East tournament isn’t guaranteed by the conference standings. Instead, the 10 members of the selection committee judge which teams are most deserving based on a combination of conference and overall records, strength of schedule and the team’s talent.

Assistant coach Ana Radeljavic isn’t a fan of the selection process.

‘I can’t tell how 10 people will judge us,’ Radeljavic said. ‘And if we don’t go to Miami, that’s it.’

SU needs to leave a good impression on the minds of the selection committee this weekend, but it’ll be hard.

‘It’s tough (for the team) to stay focused at the end of the year because finals are coming up,’ Radeljavic said.

While focusing on its opponents may be an issue for Syracuse, being familiar with them isn’t. The Orangewomen faced both of this weekend’s opponents last year, defeating Army, 5-2, and St. John’s, 7-0.

‘Both those teams are a lot stronger now,’ Saedinia said. ‘But we definitely got better, too.’

The Orangewomen (8-7, 4-2 Big East) will play Army — the more improved of their opponents — first, facing them at 11 a.m. Saturday. Though the Orangewomen beat them last year, sophomore Kristine Bech Holte says Army (9-5) shouldn’t be overlooked.

‘Army always has a tough lineup,’ Holte said. ‘They’re all pretty solid players.’

Syracuse’s main focus, though, is on St. John’s, because the meet affects whether SU makes the postseason. Syracuse faces SJU on Sunday at 11 a.m.

‘Beating Army would be just another win behind us,’ Saedinia said. ‘It’s a boost going into St. John’s.’

SU realizes the selection committee will look more favorably upon a win against the Red Storm (3-5, 2-4) than a non-conference opponent.

‘We are expecting to beat St. John’s,’ Holte said.

Junior Jessica Schlosser is more pessimistic, though, considering the importance of the meets.

‘It’s one of those pressure situations,’ Schlosser said. ‘Everybody’s ready to go out there and do their best. It’s our last two matches and we want to end the season on a positive note and, obviously, get to Miami.’

Published on April 10, 2003 at 12:00 pm