Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis versus ITA All-American Championship on September 20, 2025
Women's Tennis
vs ITA All-American Championship
Saturday, February 28
Evanston, Ill.
4:00 p.m.
Duke University
4
at
3
Northwestern
Blue Devils Upset No. 1 Northwestern
2/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
EVANSTON, Ill.?The sixth-ranked Duke University women's tennis team exacted revenge in a big way this evening with a 4-3 victory over top-ranked and unbeaten Northwestern on its home court. The Wildcats previously handed the Blue Devils a 4-3 heartbreaking loss two weeks ago at the ITA National Indoor Championship.
“We've always known how good we are, but we finally went out there and proved it, senior Melissa Mang said. “Every time we step on the court we know we should win. It's a level of confidence. That we've never had before.”
In the first meeting of the season, the Wildcats used thrilling three-set victory at No. 5 to seal the match. The match tonight was eerily similar as two players were left on the court to determine the outcome. Once again the matches went three sets, but this time it was Duke that came away with the win. Duke improves to 9-1 on the season, while Northwestern drops to 8-1 overall.
“It's great way to end the indoor season because from this point on we play outdoors,” Ashworth said. It shows the girls that if they work hard it pays off and then can be as good as anybody in the country.”
Northwestern captured the doubles point, garnering wins at No. 1 and No. 2. The 31st-ranked pair of Lauren Lui and Georgia Rose edged No. 16 Amanda Granson and Mang 8-6. Duke's second doubles pair of Mallory Cecil and Jessi Robinson fell by the same score, while Ellah Nze and Reka Zsilinszka remained undefeated with a convincing 8-2 win over Elena Chernyakova and Samantha Murray.
In nearly identical fashion from the first meeting two weeks ago, Duke trailed Northwestern 3-2 with two singles matches left on the court. This time it was freshman Mallory Cecil at No. 1 and sophomore Ellah Nze in the second spot.
Cecil and Nze both took the first sets, but Northwestern battled back to win the second sets and force a deciding third set.
Duke's rookie phenom edged the No. 1 player in the nation in Maria Moslova 7-6 (8-6).in the opening set. In a reversal of fortunes it was Moslova taking the second frame 7-6 (7-3).
Moslova took over in the third set going up two breaks at 5-2. Cecil rebounded in a big way with a pair of breaks to get back on serve at 5-5. She continued her furious comeback, winning the next two games to upset top-ranked Moslovoa 7-6, 6-7, 7-5 and tie the match 3-3.
Going up against 25th-ranked Rose, Nze cruised to a 6-0 opening set win before Rose rallied to a 7-6 (8-6) win in the second.
“The first set I just wanted to get on her early, so I think she was a little frazzled by my aggressiveness,” Nze said. “In the second I think she kind of adjusted and we both settled in for a long match.”
After staying on serve in the early games, Rose earned a break for a 4-2 advantage. Nze broke back to get on serve and tie the set 4-4.
The pair stayed on serve and headed into the tie-breaker to decide the overall match. Seconds after Cecil captured a win at No. 1, Nze triumphed in the tie-breaker, 7-5, to seal the big win for the Blue Devils. Nze's final match score was 6-0, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-5).
“Even though I was down 4-2, I knew I was still doing the right things,” Nze said. “I was glad to get through it like I did.”
“[Mallory and Ellah] were amazing,” Mang said. “It's the highest level tennis I've seen my college career. They both played so well. They were both so tough. It was awesome. They both showed so much heart and toughness.”
Mang evened the score for the Blue Devils, beating 99th-ranked Nazlie Ghazal 6-4, 6-1 at No. 5 singles. The victory avenges Mang's loss to Ghazal earlier in the year that clinched the team win for the Wildcats. Mang improves to 8-1 in dual matches this season.
“Having lost that deciding match last time, I felt like she was not going to lose that match today,” Ashworth said. “She was so focused and her being off the court first was a big lift to everyone on the team.”
“Going into today as far as my singles I was trying to be as mentally as tough as possible,” Mang said. “I wanted to make sure that I didn't give her any free points. I played well today, especially in the second set. It was definitely one of the most mentally tough matches I've had.”
Northwestern's Robison put the Wildcats back in front 2-1 with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 6. Lui added another point for the Wildcats, scraping past Amanda Granson 6-4, 6-4 in the No. 4 spot.
Sophomore Reka Zsilinszka kept the Blue Devils alive as she cruised past Murray, 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3. The victory is her 10th of the season and pushes her overall record to a team-best 20-5. She has lost three or fewer games in seven matches this year and has yet to drop a set.
Duke returns to action on March 6, at Central Florida.
#6 Duke 4, #1 Northwestern 3
2/28/2009 at Evanston, Ill. (Combe Tennis Center)
| Singles competition |
| 1. #50 Mallory Cecil (DU) def. #1 Maria Mosolova (NWESTERN) 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (3-7), 7-5 |
| 2. #24 Ellah Nze (DU) def. #25 Georgia Rose (NWESTERN) 6-0, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-5) |
| 3. #31 Reka Zsilinszka (DU) def. #43 Samantha Murray (NWESTERN) 6-1, 6-2 |
| 4. #83 Lauren Lui (NWESTERN) def. #76 Amanda Granson (DU) 6-4, 6-4 |
| 5. Melissa Mang (DU) def. #99 Nazlie Ghazal (NWESTERN) 6-4, 6-1 |
| 6. Keri Robison (NWESTERN) def. Jessi Robinson (DU) 6-4, 6-3 |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. #31 Lauren Lui/Georgia Rose (NWESTERN) def. #16 Melissa Mang/Amanda Granson (DU) 8-6 |
| 2. #18 Maria Mosolova/Keri Robison (NWESTERN) def. Mallory Cecil/Jessi Robinson (DU) 8-6 |
| 3. Ellah Nze/Reka Zsilinszka (DU) def. Elena Chernyakova/Samantha Murray (NWESTERN) 8-2 |
| Match Notes |
| Duke 9-1; National ranking #6 |
| Northwestern 8-1; National ranking #1; Regional ranking #1 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,6,4,3,1,2) |
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
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/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
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