Blue Devils Drop Old Dominion, 6-1

Friday, January 22

Durham, N.C.

6:00 PM

Duke University

Old Dominion

Blue Devils Welcome No. 2 Tar Heels in Big ACC Match

Blue Devils Drop Old Dominion, 6-1

1/22/2010 9:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.-With junior Reka Zsilinszka back in the lineup, the top-ranked Duke women's tennis team sought to make quick work of Old Dominion Friday evening at the Sheffield Tennis Center. And even though Zsilinszka was forced to retire midway through the No. 1 singles match due to illness, the Blue Devils earned their second win of the season, defeating the Monarchs, 6-1.

Playing together for the first time, the duo of senior Elizabeth Plotkin and Zsilinszka cruised to an 8-0 victory at No. 2 doubles to get off the court first.

Also making their debut as a doubles pair was freshman Jessica Stiles and sophomore Monica Gorny at the No. 3 spot. The tandem made quick work of Old Dominion's Diana Ivanova and Marija Citic, ranked 44th nationally, as they clinched the point for Duke with an 8-1 win.

"The enthusiasm we played in our doubles really showed. I think we got off to really good starts, and we've worked probably more on doubles in the last week than we have in a long time," head coach Jamie Ashworth said. "The way that they played, the movement, just overall enthusiasm they have was a lot better than a week ago."

Senior Amanda Granson set the pace for Duke in singles play, sweeping the competition at the No. 3 position in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. With the victory, 80th-ranked Granson improved to 2-0 in dual match play. Freshman Mary Clayton followed soon after Granson, dispatching the Monarch's Julianna Pires, 6-3, 6-1 to earn her second collegiate singles win.

The No. 1 singles match was a battle of nationally-ranked players. No. 20 Zsilinszka returned to the No. 1 position against Old Dominion's Nadine Fahoum, ranked right behind Zsilinszka at No. 21. The first set remained close until Zsilinszka retired due to illness with the score at 5-5.

With the No. 1 match decided early on, all eyes turned to 91st-ranked Ellah Nze and Old Dominion's Joanna Dobrowolska on court two. After earning a quick victory at the No. 2 position in Tuesday's match against Memphis, Nze again took an early lead Friday, winning the first set with little trouble. The score remained close in the second set, but Nze outlasted her opponent and won a tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-5).

"I think I played a good first set, but it's to be expected that she'll fight in the second set," Nze said. "I had some opportunities, but I didn't close it out. But, in the end, I'm glad I just was able to pull through in two sets."

Plotkin, fresh off her first win since 2007 after sitting out two seasons due to injury, also recorded a point for the Blue Devils at the No. 4 position. She took the No. 4 match by scores of 6-1, 6-0.

Next weekend, Duke hosts the first two rounds of National Team Indoors play at the Sheffield Tennis Center. With two fast-paced victories behind them, Ashworth says the Blue Devils will be looking to improve against tougher competition.

"The only thing that I think we have to work on before team indoors next week is just closing out matches when we have opportunities to win points, win games," Ashworth said. "Next week's a big weekend for us ... We just have to do a better job at singles with taking advantage of opportunities we have."

Duke opens the tournament against Yale on Jan. 30 at 2 p.m.

Singles competition

1. #21 Nadine Fahoum (ODU) def. #20 Reka Zsilinszka (DU) 5-5, retired

2. #91 Ellah Nze (DU) def. Joanna Dobrowolska (ODU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)

3. #80 Amanda Granson (DU) def. Irina Dementyeva (ODU) 6-0, 6-0

4. Elizabeth Plotkin (DU) def. Diana Ivanova (ODU) 6-1, 6-0

5. Mary Clayton (DU) def. Juliana Pires (ODU) 6-3, 6-1

6. Jessica Stiles (DU) def. Marija Citic (ODU) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles competition

1. Amanda Granson/Ellah Nze (DU) def. Nadine Fahoum/Joanna Dobrowolska (ODU) 8-2

2. Elizabeth Plotkin/Reka Zsilinszka (DU) def. Irina Dementyeva/Juliana Pires (ODU) 8-0

3. Jessica Stiles/Monica Gorny (DU) def. #44 Diana Ivanova/Marija Citic (ODU) 8-1