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DURHAM, N.C. - The fourth-ranked Duke women's tennis team upended the 12th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats, 5-2, on Sunday in the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center in Durham, N.C.
The match began with Northwestern winning the doubles point as the Wildcats won the top two spots easily. At the number one position, Northwestern's duo of 31st-ranked Marine Piriou/Lia Jackson downed Kelly McCain/Amanda Johnson (8-2) and Jessica Rush/Simona Petrutiu knocked off Hillary Adams/Katie Granson (8-2) to clinch the doubles point. Duke's tandem of Ioana Plesu/Saras Arasu notched an 8-6 victory over Andrea Yung/Ruth Barnes, but it was after the Wildcats had clinched the point.
With all the momentum in the favor of Northwestern, Duke came out strong in singles action winning the first set in five of the six matches. Third-ranked McCain led the charge with a 6-3, 6-3 rout of ninth-ranked Piriou at the first position to even the match at 1-1. At the second slot, Johnson cruised to a 6-4, 6-4 victory over 55th-ranked Jackson to give the Blue Devils a 2-1 lead.
Then, Adams and Arasu each rolled to victories to clinch the match for the Blue Devils at the number five and six positions, respectively. Duke played the match without 15th-ranked junior Julie DeRoo (Ecully, France). DeRoo has been sidelined with a back injury. Duke improves to 6-1 overall, while Northwestern falls to 5-4.
The Blue Devils will next take on Princeton on Feb. 23 at 4:00 PM in the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center.
- d - u - k - e -
February 17, 2002 * 12:00 p.m. * Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center
Duke vs. Northwestern
Doubles Winner Score
1. Marine Piro (31) vs. Kelly McCain NW 8-2
Lia Jackson Amanda Johnson
2. Jessica Rush vs. Hillary Adams NW 8-2
Simona Petrutiu Katie Granson
3. Andrea Yung vs. Saras Arasu Duke 8-6
Ruth Barnes Ioana Plesu
Singles Winner Score Match Score
1. Marine Piriou (9) vs. Kelly McCain (3) Duke 6-3, 6-3 1-1
2. Lia Jackson (55) vs. Amanda Johnson (26) Duke 6-4, 6-4 2-1
3. Jessica Rush (95) vs. Ioana Plesu Duke 7-6, 0-6, 6-2 5-2
4. Simona Petrutiu vs. Katie Granson Duke 2-6, 6-4, 4-6 4-2
5. Andrea Yung vs. Hillary Adams Duke 6-2, 6-4 3-1
6. Ruth Barnes vs. Saras Arasu (90) Duke 6-2, 7-6 4-1
Final Score-- Duke 5, Northwestern 2
Team Records-- Northwestern 5-4, Duke 6-1
Match Notes-- Home opener for Duke...Northwestern wins doubles point...Saras Arasu's victory at No. 6 singles clinched the match for Duke...Duke will next host Princeton on Feb. 23 at 4:00 PM in the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center.
