Duke Cruises Past NC State For Second ACC Win

Wednesday, March 25

Raleigh, N.C.

2:30 p,m.

Duke University

N.C. State

Duke Wins Sixth Straight, Breezes Past Hokies

Duke Cruises Past NC State For Second ACC Win

3/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

RALEIGH, N.C.?The seventh-ranked Duke University women's tennis team resumed its winning ways this evening with a 6-1 win over ACC foe N.C. State. The Blue Devils improved to 12-3 overall and 2-1 in league action for the year.

“Our schedule has been tough lately,” senior Jessi Robinson said. “We knew what to expect from NC State in terms of its record, but we don't take anybody lightly. We knew getting a quick match would be important since we're playing so many matches in a few days and we were able to do that today.”

Duke got off to a roaring start as it captured the doubles point. Sophomores Ellah Nze and Reka Zsilinszka made quick work of Neils Barringer and Pender Sessoms with an 8-0 win at No. 3. The Blue Devils' top pair of Amanda Granson and Melissa Mang clinched the point, edging No. 45 Berkeley Brock and Lenka Hojckova 8-6.

The tandem of Robinson and rookie Mallory Cecil completed the sweep at No. 3 as they snuck past Diana Mortlock and Daria Petrovic 8-6.

“We struggled in doubles a little bit,” head coach Jamie Ashworth said. “No. 1 and No. 2 both had really long matches, but in singles we were able to get quick matches. I think some people really just needed a quick match. Mallory [Cecil] hasn't had an easy match all season and she had a good clean one today. We did what we wanted to do.”

Zsilinszka made it a 2-0 score in favor of the Blue Devils with a victory at No. 3. The No. 30 Zsilinszka won the first set 6-0 and was up 1-0 in the second before Petrovic retired due to injury.

Duke continued to roll, getting a win from Granson in the No. 4 slot. Ranked 73rd nationally, Granson breezed to the 6-0, 6-2 victory over Barringer for her ninth win of the season.

The Wolfpack (4-11, 1-4) got a point back from Brock as she outlasted 23rd-ranked Nze at the No. 2 spot. The Duke sophomore took the first set 6-4 before Brock battled back to win the second set 6-4. With the overall match already decided the duo played a match tiebreaker. Brock edged Nze 10-8 for the 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-8) victory. The loss is just Nze's second of the season.

Mang and Robinson closed out the match with easy wins at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively. Robinson cruised to the 6-0, 6-3 victory over Sessoms to push her overall record to 8-7 and ACC mark to 2-1. Mang had little trouble with Mortlock as she took away a 6-3, 6-2 victory. The New Orleans native sports a team-best 13-2 overall record on the season and is unbeaten in league action at 3-0.

The Blue Devils close out their month-long road swing this weekend at Maryland and Boston College. Duke takes on the Terrapins at 3 p.m., on March 27 and travels to meet the Eagles on March 29 at 11 a.m.

“We are so excited to come play at home again,” Robinson said. “We have been playing at some pretty tough places and it will just be nice to be back with our own fans behind us. It will be good to end the season at home.”

Duke returns home on April 4 and April against Virginia and Virginia Tech.

#7 Duke University 6, N.C. State 1
Mar 25, 2009 at Raleigh, N.C. (J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center)

Singles competition

1. #31 Mallory Cecil (DU) def. #99 Lenka Hojckova (NCSU) 6-1, 6-3

2. Berkeley Brock (NCSU) def. #23 Ellah Nze (DU) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-8)

3. #30 Reka Zsilinszka (DU) def. Daria Petrovic (NCSU) 6-0, 1-0, retired

4. #73 Amanda Granson (DU) def. Neils Barringer (NCSU) 6-0, 6-2

5. Melissa Mang (DU) def. Diana Mortlock (NCSU) 6-3, 6-2

6. Jessi Robinson (DU) def. Pender Sessoms (NCSU) 6-0, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. #19 Amanda Granson/Melissa Mang (DU) def. #45 Berkeley Brock/Lenka Hojckova (NCSU) 8-6

2. Jessi Robinson/Mallory Cecil (DU) def. Diana Mortlock/Daria Petrovic (NCSU) 8-6