Completed Event: Women's Tennis at #1 Auburn on May 8, 2026 , Loss , 2, to, 4
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Final
Women's Tennis
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at #1 Auburn
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Photo by: Bri Shaw, Duke Athletics
Balus, Kimchi Receive Team Honors
5/19/2026 3:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke women's tennis head coach Jamie Ashworth announced a pair of team awards Tuesday following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season. Sophomore Irina Balus was presented with the Charles Hamilton Hargrave Most Valuable Player award, while junior Shavit Kimchi was honored with the Leadership Award.
Balus, a product of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, earned the MVP award, which is in its 10th year of presentation and was voted on by her teammates.
In her second season with the Blue Devils, Balus turned in an impressive year collecting a 22-9 overall and 17-4 dual match ledger. She advanced to the NCAA Singles Championship round of 16 to earn All-America accolades for the second year in a row, while also earning All-ACC First Team in singles and All-ACC Second Team in doubles. Balus registered 13 singles wins against ranked opponents, including a pair of victories against the No. 12 and No. 2 ranked players nationally.
Balus became just the fourth Blue Devil tennis player to be named an All-American in each of her first two years as a freshman and sophomore. She was ranked as high as No. 12 nationally in singles and No. 2 in doubles.
Kimchi was honored with the Leadership Award, which was created last year and was also voted on by her teammates.
A native of Sdey Hemed, Israel, Kimchi was ranked as high as No. 61 nationally in singles and No. 14 in doubles in 2025-26. She totaled a 12-11 singles and 18-15 doubles record this year and concluded the season with a four-match singles winning streak. Kimchi's victory in the fall against 12th-ranked Theadora Rabman of North Carolina was the highest ranked win of her collegiate career. Kimchi owns 51 career doubles wins and 50 singles victories.
Duke collected a 20-8 overall and 10-2 ACC ledger, while advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's tennis, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWTEN".
#GoDuke
Balus, a product of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, earned the MVP award, which is in its 10th year of presentation and was voted on by her teammates.
In her second season with the Blue Devils, Balus turned in an impressive year collecting a 22-9 overall and 17-4 dual match ledger. She advanced to the NCAA Singles Championship round of 16 to earn All-America accolades for the second year in a row, while also earning All-ACC First Team in singles and All-ACC Second Team in doubles. Balus registered 13 singles wins against ranked opponents, including a pair of victories against the No. 12 and No. 2 ranked players nationally.
Balus became just the fourth Blue Devil tennis player to be named an All-American in each of her first two years as a freshman and sophomore. She was ranked as high as No. 12 nationally in singles and No. 2 in doubles.
Kimchi was honored with the Leadership Award, which was created last year and was also voted on by her teammates.
A native of Sdey Hemed, Israel, Kimchi was ranked as high as No. 61 nationally in singles and No. 14 in doubles in 2025-26. She totaled a 12-11 singles and 18-15 doubles record this year and concluded the season with a four-match singles winning streak. Kimchi's victory in the fall against 12th-ranked Theadora Rabman of North Carolina was the highest ranked win of her collegiate career. Kimchi owns 51 career doubles wins and 50 singles victories.
Duke collected a 20-8 overall and 10-2 ACC ledger, while advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals.
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
Aspen Schuman Post Match vs. South Carolina
Monday, January 26
Jamie Ashworth Post Match vs. South Carolina
Monday, January 26
Eleana Yu Post Match vs. Auburn
Saturday, May 10
Jame Ashworth Post Match vs. Auburn
Saturday, May 10
