Women's Tennis Battles to Tough Win Over No. 7 Michigan

Saturday, February 20

Durham, N.C.

12:00 PM

Duke University

Michigan

Nze Advances in NCAA Individual Singles Tournament

Women's Tennis Battles to Tough Win Over No. 7 Michigan

2/20/2010 4:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. - Following a loss to North Carolina in the semifinal round of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's National Team Indoor Championship last weekend, the sixth-ranked Blue Devils grinded out a 5-2 victory this afternoon against No. 7 Michigan at Ambler Stadium. The match, Duke's first one outdoors this season, was decided by a three-set battle between Duke's Elizabeth Plotkin and the Wolverines' Tania Mahtani at No. 3 singles.

Despite their strong record in doubles play this season, the Blue Devils struggled against Michigan, ultimately dropping the point. The duo of senior Elizabeth Plotkin and junior Reka Zsilinszka, ranked 24th-nationally, rolled to a quick 8-0 victory at the No. 2 position to lead Duke off the court.

Sophomore Monica Gorny and freshman Jessica Stiles surrendered an early lead at the No. 3 position, falling by a score of 8-5. In the deciding match, the Wolverines' Whitney Taney and Rika Tatsuno defeated junior Ellah Nze and senior Amanda Granson of Duke, 8-5, in a No.1 doubles match that lasted more than 90 minutes. After going 2-1 in doubles, Michigan took the 1-0 margin, putting the pressure on Duke to come up with victories in singles play.

"Even against North Carolina, we had chances to win four, five, six singles matches, and we knew that we could win the same thing today - four, five, six singles matches," said head coach Jamie Ashworth. "Losing the doubles point didn't really affect our mindset in singles, but I think we knew coming off the UNC match that we could beat four singles and we can compete with anyone."

After a tough doubles loss, No. 60 Granson cruised in singles action, dispatching Michigan's Whitney Taney, 6-1, 6-0 at the No. 4 position to put the Blue Devils on the board.

Ashworth said Granson was able to regroup after struggling in doubles, and that her early win provided a much-needed boost for Duke.

"She did a great job of staying with it," Ashworth said. "Whenever we lose a doubles point, to get a singles match that quick was huge. It takes the air out of a team winning the doubles point. That was by far, I think, the biggest match."

The Wolverines took a 2-1 lead after Mimi Nguyen registered a 6-1, 6-2 victory over No. 70 Gorny at No. 5 singles. It was just Gorny's second loss of the season at the fifth position. Zsilinszka, who was moved to No. 2 singles for this match, cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 win over Michigan's Tatsuno. With Zsilinszka's win, the Blue Devils evened the score at 2-2.

The next three singles matches were not as easily decided. Freshman Mary Clayton battled to a 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 win on court six, winning two tiebreakers. Clayton's victory pushed her overall record to 7-2 mark in dual matches this season, and gave Duke the 3-2 lead.

After the battle at No. 6 singles was decided, Plotkin registered the victory for the Blue Devils, defeating Mahtani in three-sets, 6-7 (2-7), 6-0, 6-1. Meanwhile, on court one, Nze and Michigan's Denise Muresan, ranked 16th-nationally, were locked in a tight match. After prevailing in the first set, Nze outlasted Muresan in the second set to take the 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 victory.

"It was great to fight through it and come out with a win against a ranked player," Nze said. "It's a great confidence booster for the first time outside."

With the win, Duke improves to 8-1 this season, extending its record at home to 6-0. The Blue Devils will continue to tweak their lineup when they host Furman tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Ambler Stadium.

-d-u-k-e-

#6 Duke 5, #7 Michigan 2
Feb 20, 2010 at Durham, N.C. (Ambler Stadium)

Singles competition

1. #104 Ellah Nze (DU) def. #16 Denise Muresan (MICHIGAN) 7-6 (8-6), 6-4

2. #34 Reka Zsilinszka (DU) def. Rika Tatsuno (MICHIGAN) 6-1, 6-2

3. #47 Elizabeth Plotkin (DU) def. Tania Mahtani (MICHIGAN) 6-7 (2-7), 6-0, 6-1

4. #60 Amanda Granson (DU) def. Whitney Taney (MICHIGAN) 6-1, 6-0

5. Mimi Nguyen (MICHIGAN) def. #73 Monica Gorny (DU) 6-1, 6-2

6. Mary Clayton (DU) def. Michelle Sulahian (MICHIGAN) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5

Doubles competition

1. Whitney Taney/Rika Tatsuno (MICHIGAN) def. Ellah Nze/Amanda Granson (DU) 8-5

2. #24 Reka Zsilinszka/Elizabeth Plotkin (DU) def. Tania Mahtani/Denise Muresan (MICHIGAN) 8-0