Blue Devils Roll Arizona State 5-2

Thursday, March 10

Tempe, Ariz.

3:30 PM

Duke University

Arizona State

Blue Devils Roll Arizona State 5-2

3/10/2011 9:45:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

TEMPE, Ariz. – Freshman Rachel Kahan extended her win streak to 13 consecutive matches as the fifth-ranked Duke women's tennis team cruised to a 5-2 win over Arizona State on Thursday at the Whiteman Tennis Center.

Duke (11-2, 2-0 ACC) continued its strong doubles performance sweeping all three matches, and have now won the doubles point for the third straight match. Mary Clayton and Monica Gorny continued their stellar doubles performance with an 8-3 win over Sianna Simmons and Ashlee Brown, and have now won three straight doubles matches.

The Blue Devils took the early lead when Ellah Nze and Kahan took down Micalea Hein and Kelcy McKenna 8-6 at the number one spot. With the doubles point already decided, Nadine Fahoum and Hanna Mar defeated Jacqueline Cako and Michelle Brycki 6-5(3), to sweep the Sun Devils in doubles.

“We have been searching with doubles teams all semester that will work, not only with results but with pairs that can pump each other up,” said women's head coach Jamie Ashworth. “The energy over the last few matches in doubles has been better and it shows having won the doubles point in our last three matches.”

Arizona State battled back in singles action to tie the match at 1-1, when Cako picked up a straight set win over Fahoum, 6-1, 6-0, that extended her match win streak to 14.

Clayton then put the Blue Devils on top 2-1 with her third consecutive straight set win from the number six position over Simmons 6-1, 6-1. Duke got on the board again when Elizabeth Plotkin defeated Hanna James in three sets 6-1, 3-6, 5-2, and Kahan would seal the win with her 13 straight victory over Brown 7-5, 6-1.

With the match having already been decided, ninth-ranked singles player Reka Zsilinszka picked up the final point in the match for Duke, and moved to fourth place on the all-time wins list.

“Singles has been our strong point this season and our players are more confident in each other than they are in themselves,” said Ashworth. “With that confidence, they know that when we win the doubles point it makes it that much harder to beat us in four singles matches. We didn't have the best start today in singles as we have had, but the confidence that we have with our singles play contributed in the win.”

The Blue Devils will continue their road trip tomorrow with a matchup against seventh-ranked California at 3:30 p.m. (EST) at the ASU Whiteman Tennis Center.

-d-u-k-e-

#5 Duke 5, #31 Arizona State 2
March 10, 2011 at Tempe, Ariz. (ASU Whiteman Tennis Center)

Singles competition

1. #17 Kelcy McKenna (ASU) def. #74 Ellah Nze (DU) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3

2. #30 Jacqueline Cako (ASU) def. #39 Nadine Fahoum (DU) 6-1, 6-0

3. #9 Reka Zsilinszka (DU) def. Micaela Hein (ASU) 7-6, 4-6, 1-0 (10-8)

4. #71 Elizabeth Plotkin (DU) def. #108 Hannah James (ASU) 6-1, 3-6, 5-2

5. #56 Rachel Kahan (DU) def. Ashlee Brown (ASU) 7-5, 6-1

6. #55 Mary Clayton (DU) def. Sianna Simmons (ASU) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles competition

1. Ellah Nze/Rachel Kahan (DU) def. #39 Kelcy McKenna/Micaela Hein (ASU) 8-6

2. Nadine Fahoum/Hanna Mar (DU) def. Jacqueline Cako/Michelle Brycki (ASU) 6-5