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: Duke Athletics
Six Blue Devils Listed in Final ITA Women’s Tennis Rankings
5/20/2026 7:32:00 PM | Women's Tennis
DURHAM, N.C. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) released its final team, singles and doubles rankings for the 2025-26 campaign Wednesday with six members of the Duke women's tennis team listed.
As a team, the Blue Devils closed the year ranked No. 14 nationally, after collecting a 20-8 overall record and advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals. Duke has been ranked in the top-15 nationally to conclude the season in 26 of the 30 years under Ashworth.
In the singles rankings, sophomore Irina Balus (No. 9), freshman Aspen Schuman (No. 58) and sophomore Liv Hovde (No. 95) were ranked. Four different doubles teams received recognition – Shavit Kimchi/Hovde (No. 49), Eleana Yu/Claire An (No. 55), Kimchi/Balus (No. 77) and Hovde/Balus (No. 82).
A native of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, Balus closed the year in the top 10, after registering a 22-9 overall record 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 nation's No. 12 and No. 2 players.
Balus is just the 18th Blue Devil in program history to reach the top 10 in the national rankings during her career.
Schuman made an immediate impact with the Blue Devils after joining the squad in January. She totaled a 16-5 overall record and 10-1 ACC mark, while totaling five wins against ranked opponents. Schuman, who is from Menlo Park, California, posted four match-clinching wins and was 5-2 in three-set matches.
A product of Daniel Island, South Carolina, Hovde collected 15 singles wins, including four victories over ranked opponents in her second year with the Blue Devils. Her four match-clinching wins ranked tied for the most on Duke's squad.
The Blue Devil doubles team of Kimchi/Hovde totaled a 12-7 record with three wins against ranked opponents. The duo knocked off Ohio State's 13th-ranked tandem of Hephzibah Oluwadare/Teah Chavez for their highest ranked victory of the year.
Yu/An notched a 13-9 record in doubles action and collected their highest-ranked win of the year in the NCAA Tournament second round against 21st-ranked Catherine Aulia/Leyla Britez Risso of Tennessee. Kimchi/Balus began playing together at the end of March and registered a 3-5 record with victories over Virginia's eighth-ranked team and Clemson's 35th-ranked tandem. Four of their five losses came against ranked foes.
Hovde and Balus only played together twice and notched a 2-0 ledger with a victory against the ninth-ranked team from Virginia.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's tennis, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWTEN".
#GoDuke
As a team, the Blue Devils closed the year ranked No. 14 nationally, after collecting a 20-8 overall record and advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals. Duke has been ranked in the top-15 nationally to conclude the season in 26 of the 30 years under Ashworth.
In the singles rankings, sophomore Irina Balus (No. 9), freshman Aspen Schuman (No. 58) and sophomore Liv Hovde (No. 95) were ranked. Four different doubles teams received recognition – Shavit Kimchi/Hovde (No. 49), Eleana Yu/Claire An (No. 55), Kimchi/Balus (No. 77) and Hovde/Balus (No. 82).
A native of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, Balus closed the year in the top 10, after registering a 22-9 overall record 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 nation's No. 12 and No. 2 players.
Balus is just the 18th Blue Devil in program history to reach the top 10 in the national rankings during her career.
Schuman made an immediate impact with the Blue Devils after joining the squad in January. She totaled a 16-5 overall record and 10-1 ACC mark, while totaling five wins against ranked opponents. Schuman, who is from Menlo Park, California, posted four match-clinching wins and was 5-2 in three-set matches.
A product of Daniel Island, South Carolina, Hovde collected 15 singles wins, including four victories over ranked opponents in her second year with the Blue Devils. Her four match-clinching wins ranked tied for the most on Duke's squad.
The Blue Devil doubles team of Kimchi/Hovde totaled a 12-7 record with three wins against ranked opponents. The duo knocked off Ohio State's 13th-ranked tandem of Hephzibah Oluwadare/Teah Chavez for their highest ranked victory of the year.
Yu/An notched a 13-9 record in doubles action and collected their highest-ranked win of the year in the NCAA Tournament second round against 21st-ranked Catherine Aulia/Leyla Britez Risso of Tennessee. Kimchi/Balus began playing together at the end of March and registered a 3-5 record with victories over Virginia's eighth-ranked team and Clemson's 35th-ranked tandem. Four of their five losses came against ranked foes.
Hovde and Balus only played together twice and notched a 2-0 ledger with a victory against the ninth-ranked team from Virginia.
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
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
