Duke Downs Miami, 4-3; Advances To Semifinals Of National Team Indoors

Friday, February 4

Madison, Wis.

TBA

Duke University

Miami

Duke Downs Miami, 4-3; Advances To Semifinals Of National Team Indoors

2/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

Feb. 4, 2005

DURHAM, N.C. - The eighth-ranked Duke women's tennis team won four straight points to start the match and went on to defeat 12th-ranked Miami, 4-3, on Friday in the quarterfinals of the USTA/ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championship in Madison, Wis. The Blue Devils (4-0) will next face 14th-ranked Kentucky on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in the semifinals.

"Our goal was to get off to a good start in singles," said Duke Head Coach Jamie Ashworth. "Starting with Nos. 2, 4 and 6 made it easier for us to do that. We took advantage of the schedule of play and having these people on the court. Miami is a very emotional, in your face kind of team and our goal was to match them emotionally and we were able to do that."

Duke began the match by taking the doubles point for the fourth straight time this season. The Blue Devil tandem of Jennifer Zika and Kristin Cargill cruised to an 8-1 victory over Staci Stevens and Patricia Starzyk at the second slot. The Duke duo improved to 4-0 in dual match play and 8-1 on the season. Miami responded with a win of its own at the No. 1 position as eighth-ranked Megan Bradley and Audrey Banada defeated 42nd-ranked Jackie Carleton and Katie Blaszak, 8-3.

The doubles point came down to the third slot as Duke's Parker Goyer and Clelia Deltour battled Miami's Melissa Applebaum and Emily Mowery. Duke jumped out to a 4-1 lead and led 6-3 before winning two of the next three games to give the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead. Duke's team of Goyer and Deltour improved to 3-0 in dual match play and 6-1 overall.

The Blue Devils carried the momentum with them heading into singles action as both Blaszak and Deltour jumped out to quick leads at the No. 2 and No. 4 positions, respectively. A Fairfax, Va., product, Blaszak went on to down Stevens, 6-1, 6-4, as she remained undefeated in dual match play at 4-0. Deltour, a freshman from Savigny sur Orge, France, rebounded from a loss on Thursday to post a 6-3, 6-4 win over Banada.

Duke led 3-0 and needed only one more point to clinch the match. The only other singles match being played was at the sixth slot as Duke's Saras Arasu went up against Mowery. A product of Tampa, Fla., Arasu faced deficits in each of the first two sets but came back to win the match, 7-5, 6-4, and clinch the Blue Devil victory.

After Duke clinched the win, Miami went on to win at No. 1 with second-ranked Bradley defeating 56th-ranked Carleton, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 3 with Applebaum knocking off Tory Zawacki, 6-1, 7-5, and at No. 5 as Starzyk downed Cargill, 6-2, 6-2.

Kentucky has advanced to the semifinals with upset victories over third-ranked Clemson and 15th-ranked North Carolina.

#8 Duke 4, #12 Miami 3

Doubles
1.  #8 Megan Bradley/Audrey Banada (M) d. #42 Jackie Carleton/Katie Blaszak (D)  8-3
2.  Jennifer Zika/Kristin Cargill (D) d. Staci Stevens/Patricia Starzyk (M) 8-1
3.  Parker Goyer/Clelia Deltour (D) d. Melissa Applebaum/Emily Mowery (M) 8-4
Order of finish:  2, 1, 3

Singles
1.  #2 Megan Bradley (M) d. #56 Jackie Carleton (D)  6-4, 6-1
2.  #115 Katie Blaszak (D) d. Staci Stevens (M)  6-1, 6-4
3.  Melissa Applebaum (M) d. Tory Zawacki (D) 6-1, 7-5
4.  Clelia Deltour (D) d. Audrey Banada (M) 6-3, 6-4
5.  Patricia Starzyk (M) d. Kristin Cargill (D) 6-2, 6-2
6.  #96 Saras Arasu (D) d. Emily Mowery (M) 7-5, 6-4
Order of finish: 2, 4, 6, 1, 3, 5

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