#4 Duke Wins USTA/ITA National Indoors With 4-3 Victory Over #2 Florida

Sunday, February 9

Madison, Wisc.

TBA

Duke University

Florida

#4 Duke Wins USTA/ITA National Indoors With 4-3 Victory Over #2 Florida

2/9/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

Feb. 9, 2003

MADISON, WIS. - Duke topped Florida 4-3 Sunday to capture the title at the U.S. Tennis Association/Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Women's Team Indoor Championships at the University of Wisconsin's A.C. Nielsen Tennis Stadium.

The title is fourth-ranked Duke's (8-0) first in three USTA/ITA final appearances. Second-ranked Florida (6-1) was trying for a record seventh title at this tournament.

With the match 3-3, Duke's Amanda Johnson clinched the win at No. 2 singles with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Florida's Alexis Gordon.

Duke jumped out to a 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point, then got wins in singles from Kelly McCain (at No. 1), Katie Granson (at No. 6) and Johnson. McCain, Granson and Johnson all went 4-0 in singles during the tournament.

"The biggest difference this week for us was winning the doubles point," Duke coach Jamie Ashworth said. "Coming through today and sweeping the doubles took so much pressure off us. Florida is great in singles, but so are we, and it's going to be tough for anyone to beat us in three singles matches. And if they do, then hat's off to them."

Despite losing the doubles point, Florida did bounce back to quickly win at Nos. 3, 4, and 5 singles and grab a 3-1 lead. Florida's Julia Scaringe, who won at No. 3 singles, went 4-0 for the Gators this week.

Amanda Johnson had the match-clinching victory on Sunday at No. 2 singles

"Duke is a great team and you're not going to beat them unless you're clicking on all cylinders," Florida coach Roland Thornqvist said.

Duke beat No. 10 California 4-1 in Saturday's semifinals. Florida topped No. 6 Southern California 5-1 in the other semi.

The Blue Devils are only the fourth team to win the USTA/ITA title. Florida, Stanford and Georgia had been the only teams to win the championship since the tournament began in 1988.

Duke beats Florida after losing to the Gators in two prior national final meetings - the 1998 NCAA and 1999 USTA/ITA.

The Blue Devils will also go to No. 1 for the first time in school history in the ITA/Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Rankings when they are released Wednesday.

The USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championship is the nation's premier indoor tournament. This tournament, which usually serves as a sneak preview to the season-ending NCAA Championships in May, began in 1988 and has been hosted by Wisconsin each year.

The tournament can be followed at www.itatennis.com. ---

Duke Quotes

Duke coach Jamie Ashworth
"Last year Amanda (Johnson) lost in the deciding match against Vanderbilt (in the USTA/ITA semifinals) and I told her that she was she was going to get that chance in an opportunity again. She's won the most matches for us over the three years and when she got the opportunity to close out a big match for us again, there was no doubt in my mind that should would take care of things. I asked her after the match if she remembered me telling her that and she said 'yes.' Especially after losing the first set, she did a great job coming back."

"The biggest difference this week for us was winning the doubles point. Coming through today and sweeping the doubles took so much pressure off us today. Florida is great in singles, but so are we, and it's going to be tough for anyone to beat us in three singles matches. And if they do, then hat's off to them."

"Dawaf played a great match at number one (singles). In matches that we lost in NCAAs and Team Indoors last year, Kelly lost. So when we get that lift at one it really helps us."

"Granson showed her leadership again today. It was great to see her step up in a big match. She's been a real good off the court leader for us, but to see her on the court and contribute has been really great."

Duke's Amanda Johnson
"I had no idea (the team score was 3-3). To be honest with you, when Kelly (McCain) won (at No. 1), I thought we had won. No one had told me what the score was. Once I realized it, I got a lot more nervous. But I kept my focus and stayed calm."

On the serving out the match at 5-3 in the third: "I'd held serve most of the second and third sets. And I knew if I needed to get that game, because she was serving a lot better and I couldn't rely on winning the return game. So I gues I buckled down and decided I better win this now."

"It feels good (to win the title). It's been a long week, but we stayed together as a team. We deserved it.

Florida Quotes

Florida coach Roland Thornqvist
On Gordon-Johnson match: "Alexis was up a set and a break and had opportunities to double that break. And when she didn't get that it looked like the wind went out of her sail a little bit. Amanda played a good game to even things in the second and at that point the momentum was clearly in her corner and she is a very good momentum player. She reeled off eight games in a row in about a 20 minute-span and in this setting it's just too tough to catch up. Alexis is a good fighter and there's really no one else I'd rather have in that situation, but when you spot someone a 4-0 lead (in the third set) it's usually too much to catch up to."

On coming back after doubles: "Things our team prides ourselves in are our effort and our competitiveness rather than our talent."

"Duke is a great team and you're not going to beat them unless you're clicking on all cylinders. Jamie (Ashworth) has done a great job coaching them this week and my hat's off to them."

Duke 4, Florida 3

Doubles 1. McCain/Hillary Adams, D, def. Gordon/Scaringe, F, 8-6 2. DeRoo/Johnson, D, def. Dawaf/Rotondi, F, 9-7 3. Granson/Smith, D, def. Magley/Reyes, F, 8-6

(Duke won doubles point)

Singles 1. Kelly McCain, D, def. Lindsay Dawaf, F, 7-5, 6-3 2. Amanda Johnson, D, def. Alexis Gordon, F, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 3. Julia Scaringe, F, def. Julie DeRoo, D, 6-2, 6-0 4. Julie Rotondi, F, def. Katie Blaszak, D, 6-3, 7-5 5. Zerene Reyes, F, def. Julia Smith, D, 6-4, 6-2 6. Katie Granson, D, def. Jennifer Magley, F, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1