Blue Devils Rebound With Upset Of No. 4 Baylor

Sunday, February 15

Madison, Wi.

4:30 p.m.

Duke University

Baylor

Mang Wins 100th Match; Blue Devils Edge No. 7 Georgia Tech

Blue Devils Rebound With Upset Of No. 4 Baylor

2/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

MADISON, Wis.?The Duke University women's tennis team rebounded after a heartbreaking loss with a thrilling 4-3 victory over fourth-ranked Baylor University. The No. 8 Blue Devils captured four singles wins to triumph over the Bears in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship Quarterfinal Consolation match.

“Jamie [Ashworth] talked to us after the match and we talked to each other,” senior Melissa Mang said. “Even though it was heartbreaking we knew had another match to play against another great team. We just had to put [the loss] behind us and I think we did a great job of that.”

Baylor captured the doubles point with matching 8-3 wins at No. 1 and No. 2, but Duke rebounded in a grand fashion with four singles victories. Sophomores Reka Zsilinszka and Ellah Nze garnered an 8-6 victory in the third doubles spot.

“They were just as good [as Northwestern] and for us to come back and get a win was great,” head coach Jamie Ashworth. “We didn't play good doubles at all and to come back and win four singles matches is a great way to finish off the weekend.”

After an hour break, the Bears and Blue Devils battled it out in singles. The teams played all six matches at once for the first time this weekend.

“It was the first time we had six singles matches at once and I think we play better in that format because they feed off of each other,” Ashworth said. “Melissa [Mang] won the first match for us after the doubles. That was big because she had a tough match last night. She played with a look in her eyes that said she was not going to lose. Reka won right after her and that and I think they did a great job of feeding off each other.”

Mang was the first off the court in singles as she breezed past Baylor's Karolina Filipiak, 6-1, 6-2. After a heartbreaking loss against Northwestern, Mang dominated the match to tie the score 1-1.

“I came back on the same court as last night and I was just determined to not give my opponent any free points,” Mang said. “I wanted to stay very consistent and not give her anything at all. I wanted to stay positive and never put pressure on myself. I just had to go out there and play loose.”

Zsilinszka gave Duke the early 2-1 advantage with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Lenka Broosova. The win was a big one for Zsilinszka as Broosova was the player who ended Zsilinszka's season in the NCAA Tournament Round of 16. She remains unbeaten on the year with a 7-0 record in dual matches and a team-best 18 victories.

Rookie Mallory Cecil grabbed a big two-set win, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) over 19th-ranked Taylor Ormond. The win was Cecil's first over a nationally-ranked player after losing a tough three-set match to the nation's top player against Northwestern.

“Mallory played great,” Ashworth said. “It was good for Mallory to get a good win like that.”

Clinching the victory for the Blue Devils was Nze in the No. 2 spot. Nze battled her way to a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win over No. 32 Csilia Borsanyi. Ranked 43rd in the nation, Nze improves her overall record to 16-4 overall and 7-0 in dual matches.

Junior Amanda Granson and senior Jessi Robinson dropped tough losses at No. 4 and No. 6, respectively. Granson fell in three sets, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 to 65th-ranked Jelena Stanivuk, while Robinson's rally in the second set fell just short in a 7-5, 6-4 setback.

“[Amanda and Jessi] did a really job of staying on the court and keeping us in the match,” Ashworth said. “Even though they ended up losing their matches they both fought their way back and they kept Baylor from gaining any confidence.”

The Blue Devils return to action at home on Feb. 21, hosting Texas A&M at 12 p.m., at the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center.

#8 Duke University 4, #4 Baylor 3
Feb 15, 2009 at Madison, Wis. (Nielsen Tennis Center)

Singles competition

1. Mallory Cecil (DU) def. #19 Taylor Ormond (BAY) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)

2. #43 Ellah Nze (DU) def. #32 Csilla Borsanyi (BAY) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4

3. #56 Reka Zsilinszka (DU) def. Lenka Broosova (BAY) 6-4, 6-2

4. #65 Jelena Stanivuk (BAY) def. #48 Amanda Granson (DU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3

5. Melissa Mang (DU) def. Karolina Filipiak (BAY) 6-1, 6-2

6. Nina Secerbegovic (BAY) def. Jessi Robinson (DU) 7-5, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. #3 Lenka Broosova/Csilla Borsanyi (BAY) def. #20 Amanda Granson/Melissa Mang (DU) 8-3

2. Taylor Ormond/Jelena Stanivuk (BAY) def. Jessi Robinson/Mallory Cecil (DU) 8-3