Junior Julie DeRoo Wins Singles Consolation Final At Riviera All-American

Oct. 14, 2001

PACIFIC PALISADES, calif. - For the second consecutive year, the Duke women's tennis team had a champion at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American as junior Julie DeRoo (Ecully, France) captured the consolation singles title on Sunday with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over 64th-ranked Darija Klaic of Washington at the Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

"It felt really good to win today," said DeRoo. "In the first game I wasn't using my legs enough and came back in the next two games moving a lot more. I was able to make my opponent move more in the final two games also."

DeRoo, a transfer from Ole Miss and ranked 21st in the preseason, came back after falling in the first round of the main draw to fifth-ranked Sara Walker of UCLA to win four consecutive matches and capture the consolation title.

"It was a nice win for Julie today," said Duke head coach Jamie Ashworth. "After losing her first match in the main draw, she came back very strong and picked up some very good wins."

Last season, then freshman Ansley Cargill picked up the main draw singles title for the Blue Devils.

During the season, the ITA hosts three national collegiate championships with the Riviera All-American being the first one of the season. The second is the Omni Hotels National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships in Dallas and the final is the NCAA Championships.

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