Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis versus ITA All-American Championship on September 20, 2025
Women's Tennis
vs ITA All-American Championship
Thursday, May 21
College Station, Texas
All Day
Duke University
vs
Second Round Singles/First Round Doubles
Cecil, Nze, Zsilinszka Move On To Round of 16
5/21/2009 9:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis
COLLEGE STATION, Texas?All three members of the Duke University women's tennis team advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA Individual Tournament singles competition. The Blue Devils also opened doubles action this afternoon at the George P. Mitchell Center in College Station, Texas.
Rookie Mallory Cecil and sophomores Ellah Nze and Reka Zsilinszka all won in straight sets to move into the round of 16 for the Blue Devils. This marks the first time since 1997 Duke has advanced at least three players to the round of 16.
In doubles action, the tandem of Melissa Mang and Amanda Granson fell to Nadine Farhoum and Charleen Haarhoff of Old Dominion in a tough three-set match, 6-7, 6-3, 6-1. The duo closes out their season with a 25-14 record overall.
Seeded fifth overall, Cecil took on ACC rival and defending national champion Amanda McDowell of Georgia Tech. The Spartanburg, S.C., native used a pair of breaks in the two sets to earn a 6-4, 6-4 victory over the Yellowjacket. The win is her 28th of the year and 16th against a nationally-ranked foe. She will take on Bianca Eichkorn of Miami for the fourth time this season in the round of 16
“(Amanda McDowell) is the defending champion,” Cecil said. “She is a great player. I definitely knew that she was really experienced in this arena. “I came out really wanting to play my game and stay aggressive. I know she hits heavy, and I play like that a little bit, too. It definitely helped her with the wind and definitely pushed me back a lot. Just like yesterday, I just tried to keep coming inside the baseline and really work my serve. I think I did that pretty well today.”
Nze moved on to another round, beating Amanda Fink of Southern California, 6-2, 6-3. Earning her 30th victory of the year, the Tampa, Fla., native advances to play second-seeded Julia Cohen of Miami on May 22.
Closing out the Blue Devil victories was Zsilinszka with an easy 6-3, 6-1 win over Melanie Gloria of Fresno State. Capturing her 41st win of the season, she will face No. 1 seed Maria Mosolova of Northwestern in the round of 16.
Cecil, Nze and Zsilinszka return to the courts in search of a bid to the quarterfinal round tomorrow at times to be announced.
-d-u-k-e-
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Tennis
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/ Women's Tennis
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/ Women's Tennis
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/ Women's Tennis
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