Duke Wins! Blue Devils Advance To National Semifinals

Sunday, May 17

College Station, Texas

3 p.m.

Duke University

Miami

Seven Women's Tennis Players Ranked in ITA Preseason Poll

Duke Wins! Blue Devils Advance To National Semifinals

5/17/2009 9:15:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

COLLEGE STATION, Texas?The Duke University women's tennis team captured a 4-1 victory over ACC rival Miami today to advance to the NCAA Semifinals. The third-seeded Blue Devils dropped the sixth-seeded Hurricanes to advance to the round of four for the seventh time in program history and for the first time since 1999.

Duke dropped the Hurricanes for the second consecutive time after beating Miami in the ACC Championship game. Duke is 27-3 overall on the year and pushed its win streak to 15 matches, which ranks fourth all-time in program history. Miami finishes its season at 26-5.

The Blue Devils will take on No. 2 Georgia on May 18 at 5 p.m. (ET). It will be the third time the two teams will be meeting in NCAA Tournament action with both teams meeting once. The Bulldogs edged South Carolina 4-3 in the quarterfinal round.

“We played really well,” head coach Jamie Ashworth said. I couldn't be happier with how we came out. I was a little nervous during the doubles, but we did a great job of fighting back. We matched the emotion that Miami had. I thought we were able to capitalize on winning the doubles point. We got off to some good starts in singles.”

Duke captured the doubles point and went up 2-0 before the Hurricanes got on the board to make it 2-1. It was all Blue Devils after that as they pulled off three more wins to take the match 4-1.

The Blue Devils got off to a tough start in doubles action, falling behind in the early games. Unfazed, they quickly bounced back and took a lead at No. 1 and No. 3. The Hurricanes garnered the first victory of the day, taking an 8-1 victory over Duke's Mallory Cecil and Jessi Robinson.

The No. 1 tandem of Melissa Mang and Amanda Granson tied the score as they battled their way to an 8-4 win over the 19th-ranked pair from Miami. Ellah Nze and Reka Zsilinszka clinched the point moments later with an 8-6 triumph at No. 3.

Duke carried that momentum right into singles play. Sixth-ranked Cecil was the first off the court as she breezed past No. 3 Julia Cohen 6-2, 6-1. It marked Cecil's 14th win over a ranked opponent and her 14th consecutive victory.

The Hurricanes grabbed a point with a win at No. 2, but the Blue Devils quickly surged to a 3-1 lead with a thrilling three-set victory from Granson.

The Hilton Head, S.C., native lost the opening set 6-3. Looking to grab her first win of the season over Michaela Kissell, Granson dug down and took the next two sets 6-1, 6-3 to take the match 3-6, 6-1, 6-3. It is her 28th win of the season and 75th of her career.

“Amanda Granson at four played an unbelievable match,” Ashworth said. “She lost to that girl twice in a row and just did an unbelievable job. Everyone else, at least the 2, 4, 6, side fed off of her.”

Needing just one more win to advance to the round of four, Zsilinszka clinched the victory for the 10th time this season and for the second straight time against the Hurricanes. The Fayetteville, N.C., native dropped No. 31 Bianca Eichkorn 6-4, 6-2 for her 37th win of the season.

“I'm excited for them,” Ashworth said. “They are really excited to beat a Miami team, 4-1. With the history we've had with them, it's a great thing for our program.”

For complete information on the NCAA Championships, click here.

#3 Duke University 4, #6 Miami 1
May 17, 2009 at
Singles competition
1. #6 Mallory Cecil (DU) def. #3 Julia Cohen (UMW) 6-2, 6-1
2. #24 Laura Vallverdu (UMW) def. #37 Ellah Nze (DU) 6-3, 6-3
3. #30 Reka Zsilinszka (DU) def. #31 Bianca Eichkorn (UMW) 6-4, 6-2
4. #49 Amanda Granson (DU) def. #91 Michaela Kissell (UMW) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
5. #122 Melissa Mang (DU) vs. Gabriela Mejia (UMW) 6-2, 3-6, unfinished
6. Jessi Robinson (DU) vs. Claudia Wasilewski (UMW) 4-6, 6-3, 0-3, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. #22 Amanda Granson/Melissa Mang (DU) def. #19 Michaela Kissell/Laura Vallverdu (UMW) 8-4
2. #51 Julia Cohen/Bianca Eichkorn (UMW) def. #53 Jessi Robinson/Mallory Cecil (DU) 8-1
3. Ellah Nze/Reka Zsilinszka (DU) def. Gabriela Mejia/Claudia Wasilewski (UMW) 8-6

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