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Four Blue Devils Listed in Preseason ITA Singles Rankings
8/27/2025 11:15:00 AM | Women's Tennis
DURHAM, N.C. –The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) unveiled its preseason singles and doubles rankings this week, featuring four Duke women's tennis student-athletes in the singles and three doubles duos earning national recognition.
Sophomore Irina Balus (14), junior Eleana Yu (42), sophomore Liv Hovde (49) and junior Shavit Kimchi (61) appeared in the singles rankings.
In doubles, Duke also had three pairs make the listing — Balus/Hovde (2), Ava Krug/Yu (76) and Kimchi/Claire An (83).
Balus was named the ITA Carolina Region Rookie of the Year last season, ranking as high as No. 8 in singles. Balus, a native of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, was one of only eight freshmen Blue Devils to be ranked in the top 10 nationally in singles. She ended the 2024-25 season with an impressive 17-11 overall singles record.
In her first season with the Blue Devils in 2024-25, Yu had an impressive 19-9 record in singles and reached as high as No. 23 nationally in singles.
Hovde joined the Duke squad in January of 2025 and registered three wins against ranked opponents while seeing action at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions. She collected six overall wins in her rookie season.
Kimchi has logged 38 career singles wins and ranked as high as No. 38 nationally over her two years with the Blue Devils. She totaled a 21-11 mark in singles a season ago.
Despite being a new doubles pair, Balus and Hovde earned a preseason No. 2 ranking. Hovde had an impressive 17-1 doubles ledger teaming with Duke graduate Emma Jackson a season ago. Balus competed with Blue Devil graduate Ellie Coleman in 2024-25, totaling 21 victories and advancing to the NCAA Doubles Championship.
Four current Blue Devils were ranked in the final ITA singles ledger of the 2024-25 season -- Balus (26), Yu (71), Hovde (80) and Kimchi (97).
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's tennis, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWTEN".
#GoDuke
Sophomore Irina Balus (14), junior Eleana Yu (42), sophomore Liv Hovde (49) and junior Shavit Kimchi (61) appeared in the singles rankings.
In doubles, Duke also had three pairs make the listing — Balus/Hovde (2), Ava Krug/Yu (76) and Kimchi/Claire An (83).
Balus was named the ITA Carolina Region Rookie of the Year last season, ranking as high as No. 8 in singles. Balus, a native of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, was one of only eight freshmen Blue Devils to be ranked in the top 10 nationally in singles. She ended the 2024-25 season with an impressive 17-11 overall singles record.
In her first season with the Blue Devils in 2024-25, Yu had an impressive 19-9 record in singles and reached as high as No. 23 nationally in singles.
Hovde joined the Duke squad in January of 2025 and registered three wins against ranked opponents while seeing action at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions. She collected six overall wins in her rookie season.
Kimchi has logged 38 career singles wins and ranked as high as No. 38 nationally over her two years with the Blue Devils. She totaled a 21-11 mark in singles a season ago.
Despite being a new doubles pair, Balus and Hovde earned a preseason No. 2 ranking. Hovde had an impressive 17-1 doubles ledger teaming with Duke graduate Emma Jackson a season ago. Balus competed with Blue Devil graduate Ellie Coleman in 2024-25, totaling 21 victories and advancing to the NCAA Doubles Championship.
Four current Blue Devils were ranked in the final ITA singles ledger of the 2024-25 season -- Balus (26), Yu (71), Hovde (80) and Kimchi (97).
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's tennis, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWTEN".
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Eleana Yu Post Match vs. Auburn
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Jame Ashworth Post Match vs. Auburn
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Ellie Coleman Post Match vs. FAU
Saturday, May 03
Jamie Ashworth Post Match vs. FAU
Saturday, May 03
