Third-ranked Duke Falls, 4-1, To Second-ranked Florida In NCAA Semifinals

Saturday, May 17

Gainesville, Fla.

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Duke University

Florida

Third-ranked Duke Falls, 4-1, To Second-ranked Florida In NCAA Semifinals

5/17/2003 1:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

May 17, 2003

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GAINESVILLE, FLA. - The third-ranked Duke women's tennis team concluded its season with a 4-1 loss to second-ranked Florida on Saturday at the Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville, Fla. The Blue Devils finish the season with a 30-3 record, while Florida improves to 30-2 and will play the winner of the California/Stanford match on Sunday.

The Blue Devils and Gators battled for the key doubles point on Saturday which came down to the No. 3 position after Florida's 26th-ranked Jennifer Magley and Zerene Reyes won at No. 1 with an 8-6 victory over eighth-ranked Amanda Johnson and Julie DeRoo, while Duke's 14th-ranked tandem of Kelly McCain and Hillary Adams knocked off 53rd-ranked Alexis Gordon and Julie Rotondi, 8-5, at the second slot. The Blue Devil team of Johnson/DeRoo took a 6-4 lead early, but went on to lose the next four points to give Florida the victory.

At the third position, Duke's duo of Katie Granson and Katie Blaszak battled against Lindsay Dawaf and Julia Scaringe. Florida's duo took a commanding 4-1 lead early, but the Blue Devils battled back to even the match at 5-5. The Gators ended up with their advantage on the next point before a very controversial no-call went Florida's way to put the Gators up 6-5. Duke went on to lose the next two points to give Florida the doubles victory, 8-5.

It marked only the fourth time this season the Blue Devils had lost the doubles point and the first time in three meetings with Florida.

In singles action, Duke's second-ranked McCain evened the score with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over 47th-ranked Scaringe, which marked her 13th-consecutive singles win. Florida came right back to take 2-1 advantage as 95th-ranked Magley downed Granson, 6-2, 6-1.

At the fifth slot, Duke's 69th-ranked Blaszak went up against 14th-ranked Gordon. Gordon came out on fire winning the first set 6-2, but Blaszak came back in the second set to take a 5-1 lead before Gordon stormed back to win the set 7-5. Florida was able to clinch the victory at the third slot as 28th-ranked Dawaf knocked off 60th-ranked Saras Arasu, 6-3, 6-2. The remaining two singles matches were then abandoned.

Duke's McCain, Johnson and Arasu will next play in the NCAA Singles Championship beginning on Monday, while the doubles teams of McCain/Adams and DeRoo/Johnson will also play.

#2 Florida 4, #3 Duke 1

Doubles
1.	 #26 Jennifer Magley/Zerene Reyes (UF) def. #8 Amanda Johnson/Julie DeRoo (DU) 8-6
2. #14 Kelly McCain/Hillary Adams (DU) def. #53 Alexis Gordon/Julie Rotondi (UF) 8-5
3. Lindsay Dawaf/Julia Scaringe (UF) def. Katie Granson/Katie Blaszak (DU) 8-5

Singles
1.  #2 Kelly McCain (DU) def. #47 Julia Scaringe (UF) 6-2, 6-1
2.  #19 Amanda Johnson (DU) vs. #35 Julie Rotondi (UF) 1-6, 6-4, 2-3  DNF
3.  #28 Lindsay Dawaf (UF) def. #60 Saras Arasu (DU) 6-3, 6-2
4.  Julie DeRoo (DU) vs. #24 Zerene Reyes (UF)  3-6, 3-3  DNF
5.  #14 Alexis Gordon (UF) def. #69 Katie Blaszak (DU)  6-2, 7-5
6.  #95 Jennifer Magley (UF) def. Katie Granson (DU) 6-2, 6-1

Order of finish: Doubles - 2,1,3  Sinigles:  1, 6, 5, 3