Blue Devils Fall To Hurricanes, 5-2

Sunday, March 22

Miami, Fl.

12:00 p.m.

Duke University

Miami

Blue Devils Fall To Hurricanes, 5-2

3/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

CORAL GABLES, Fla.?It was bound to be a close match as seventh-ranked Duke and No. 8 Miami squared off in ACC women's tennis action this afternoon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. The teams did not disappoint as the Hurricanes edged the Blue Devils 5-2 on their home court. The final two singles matches of the day went to three sets with 7-6 and 7-5 wins for Miami in the third set.

Duke falls to 11-3 overall on the season and 1-1 in conference action. Miami moves to 16-3 on the year and 5-1 against league foes. The Hurricanes remained a perfect 12-0 at home with the win.

The Hurricanes grabbed the important doubles point, winning first and second doubles. The tandem of Julia Cohen and Bianca Eichkorn were the first off the court, defeating Duke's No. 2 pair Mallory Cecil and Jessi Robinson 8-5. The No. 33 duo of Michaela Kissell and Laura Vallverdu clinched the point with a victory over Melissa Mang and Amanda Granson.

Rounding out the Duke lineup with a win at No. 3 were sophomores Ellah Nze and Reka Zsilinszka. They dispatched Gabriela Mejia and Claudia Wasilewski 8-6 to improve to 12-2 in dual matches.

Needing four wins at singles, Duke fell behind 2-0 after No. 6 Cohen got past No. 31 Cecil 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1. Duke's Robinson got a point back as she breezed past Wasilewski 6-1, 6-3 in the No. 6 slot. Robinson improves to 7-7 overall and 1-1 in conference action with the win.

Mang tied the score at 2-2 next, triumphing over Mejia 6-3, 6-4 at No. 5 singles. The senior captain remains unbeaten in two conference matches and is 12-2 overall. The Hurricanes regained the lead as 24th-ranked Vallverdu eked out a 7-6 (7-5) , 6-4 win over No. 23 Nze at second singles. The setback was Nze's first of the year and the first in the past 13 matches.

Trailing 3-2, Duke needed to grab wins at No. 3 and No. 4 to secure the 4-3 victory. Both contests went to three sets and down to the wire. Granson lined up against No. 50 Kissell and won the first set 6-4. Kissell rebounded in commanding fashion, taking the second set 6-0. The decisive set was up for grabs, but it was Kissell who came away with the win at 4-6, 6-0, 7-5.

Eichkorn closed out the match for the Hurricanes with a win over Zsilinszka at No. 3. Similar to Kissell moments earlier, 40th-ranked Eichkorn came back to win 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5). The loss is just Zsilinszka's second of the year and first in ACC action.

Duke takes a couple of days off before returning to take on N.C. State on March 25 at 2:30 p.m.

#8 Miami 5, #7 Duke 2
Mar 22, 2009 at Coral Gables, Fla. (Neil Schiff Tennis Center)

Singles competition

1. #6 Julia Cohen (UMW) def. #31 Mallory Cecil (DU) 6-3, 6-3

2. #24 Laura Vallverdu (UMW) def. #23 Ellah Nze (DU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4

3. #40 Bianca Eichkorn (UMW) def. #30 Reka Zsilinszka (DU) 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)

4. #50 Michaela Kissell (UMW) def. #73 Amanda Granson (DU) 4-6, 6-0, 7-5

5. Melissa Mang (DU) def. Gabriela Mejia (UMW) 6-3, 6-4

6. Jessi Robinson (DU) def. Claudia Wasilewski (UMW) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. #33 Michaela Kissell/Laura Vallverdu (UMW) def. #19 Melissa Mang/Amanda Granson (DU) 8-4

2. Julia Cohen/Bianca Eichkorn (UMW) def. Jessi Robinson/Mallory Cecil (DU) 8-5