Women's Tennis Drops Tough Match at No. 20 Georgia Tech

Saturday, April 10

Atlanta, Ga.

12:00 p.m.

Duke University

Georgia Tech

Zsilinszka Captures Title at Fab Four Invite

Women's Tennis Drops Tough Match at No. 20 Georgia Tech

4/10/2010 5:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

ATLANTA, Ga.-Georgia Tech sophomore Lynn Blau captured a third-set tiebreak 8-6 at No. 4 singles to clinch a 4-3 victory over seventh-ranked Duke this afternoon in women's tennis action at the Bill Moore Tennis Center. The 20th-ranked Yellowjackets captured four singles wins to emerge victorious.

The Blue Devils drop to 17-4 overall and 5-2 in ACC play, while Georgia Tech improves to 13-7 and 4-3 against conference foes.

The Blue Devils got off to a good start, clinching the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3. The pair of sophomore Monica Gorny and Mary Clayton was off the court first, triumphing 8-3 over Blau and Hillary Davis. Ranked 58th nationally, junior Reka Zsilinszka and senior Elizabeth Plotkin clinched the crucial point with an 8-6 victory at No. 3. The Yellowjackets grabbed a win at No. 1 as their 30th-ranked tandem of Sasha Krupina and Irina Falconi outlasted junior Ellah Nze and senior Amanda Granson 8-6.

Georgia Tech quickly tied the score in singles, getting a 6-1, 6-4 win from Elizabeth Kilborn over Duke's Gorny on court five. The Yellowjackets grabbed another singles victory at No. 3 for a 2-1 lead in the overall match. Krupina defeated Granson 7-5, 6-3 to give Georgia Tech a lead with four matches remaining.

Meanwhile on courts two and four, the Blue Devils rallied to force third sets. Duke's No. 2 singles player, Zsilinszka dropped the first set 6-3, but answered with a 6-3 win in the second to force the decisive third set. Clayton's performance at No. 5 was even more impressive as she battled back from a 3-1 deficit in the second set and won in the tiebreak to take the second set 7-6.

Amidst the drama unfolding on those courts, Duke rookie Jessica Stiles turned in a crucial victory as she outlasted Davis 6-4, 6-4 to even the match score at two apiece. The win was Stiles' eighth of the season and fourth in ACC competition.

The Yellowjackets regained the 3-2 advantage when top-ranked Irina Falconi edged Nze in three sets 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Remaining on the court in the third sets, Zsilinszka and Clayton continued their momentum. Zsilinszka broke open an early 3-0 lead and rode that to the 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory to tie the contest 3-3 with Clayton left to finish. The native of Fayetteville, N.C., remains unbeaten in conference action and is 16-4 overall in dual matches.

Clayton mirrored Zsilinszka's performance early on as she rolled to a 4-1 lead in the third set before Lynn Blau mounted a comeback and tied the set 6-6. Blau completed the comeback, winning the third-set tiebreak ?-? for the 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 (6) win.

Duke continues its tough ACC schedule on Sunday, April 11 at No. 9 Clemson. The match is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. Live scoring will be available at www.GoDuke.com.

#20 Georgia Tech 4, #7 Duke 3
Apr 10, 2010 at Atlanta, Ga.

Singles competition

1. #1 Irina Falconi (GT) def. #40 Ellah Nze (DU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3

2. #39 Reka Zslinszka (DU) def. Viet Ha Ngo (GT) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2

3. Sasha Krupina (GT) def. Amanda Granson (DU) 7-5, 6-3

4. Lynn Blau (GT) def. Mary Clayton (DU) 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 (8-6)

5. Elizabeth Kilborn (GT) def. Monica Gorny (DU) 6-1, 6-4

6. Jessica Stiles (DU) def. Hillary Davis (GT) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. #30 Sasha Krupina/Irina Falconi (GT) def. #42 Ellah Nze/Amanda Granson (DU) 8-6

2. Mary Clayton/Monica Gorny (DU) def. Lynn Blau/Hillary Davis (GT) 8-3

3. #58 Elizabeth Plotkin/Reka Zslinszka (DU) def. Elizabeth Kilborn/Viet Ha Ngo (GT) 8-6