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

Saturday, April 11

Durham, N.C.

12:00 p.m.

Duke University

Georgia Tech

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

4/11/2009 9:15:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.?Duke senior Melissa Mang captured her 100th career singles victory to help lead the red-hot women's tennis team to an exciting 4-3 win over No. 7 Georgia Tech on senior day. The fifth-ranked Blue Devils are riding a 10-match win streak and captured a share of the ACC regular season title with the win.

Duke honored seniors Tara Iyer, Jessi Robinson and Mang prior to the match. The trio of players has guided the Blue Devils through four successful seasons. Since 2005-06, Duke has posted an impressive 72-26 overall record and a 33-11 mark against ACC foes.

“I thought we played well,” head coach Jamie Ashworth said. “I was really proud of how they came back after such a physical and emotional match yesterday and were really good at the beginning. To be emotionally the best team on the court is great to see.”

The Blue Devils earned the No. 2 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament. Duke has a bye for the first round and will play at 12 p.m. on April 17 versus the winner of the No. 7/No. 10 game. The official pairings will be announced on April 13.

Coming off of a short rest after a big 6-1 victory over Clemson the previous evening, Duke picked up right where it left off. The Blue Devils swept doubles to earn the crucial single point for the fifth straight match.

Sophomores Ellah Nze and Reka Zsilinszka continued their stellar doubles play, capturing an 8-4 win over Amanda McDowell and Lynn Blau. Duke's No. 2 tandem of Mallory Cecil and Robinson breezed its way to an 8-2 victory to clinch the point, while Mang and Amanda Granson held off the No. 31-ranked duo of Noelle Hickey and Christy Striplin 8-7 (3) to give Duke the clean 3-0 sweep.

“Our doubles more than anything are playing very well,” Ashworth said. “They just keep getting better and better. The wins in doubles have been huge for us and it is great to see that part of our game coming together.”

Similar to the match against Clemson, Duke came out strong in singles and jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Looking for her 11th straight victory, Mang jumped all over Sasha Krupina in the No. 5 spot. The native of New Orleans, La., raced to a 6-3, 6-2 win to become the 17th Duke women's tennis player to reach 100 career victories. Mang is now 100-41 for her career.

Zsilinszka was not far behind as she dropped No. 54 Hickey 6-3, 6-0 to give Duke a 3-0 cushion with four matches left on the court. Zsilinszka sports a team-best 32-7 overall record and has won nine straight matches.

The remaining four matches were all very close affairs. Fresh off of a victory over the nation's top-ranked player, Cecil got off to a tough start against seventh-ranked Irina Falconi. Dropping the first set 6-2, the rookie battled back in grand fashion to take the match 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. The win gave Duke the necessary four points for the overall win.

The final three matches all went to three sets with the Yellow Jackets winning all three. Granson retired due to injury at No. 4, while McDowell rallied back to defeat Nze 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 2. Lynn Blau cashed in the final point for Georgia Tech, squeaking out a 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 win over Robinson in the sixth slot.

Duke starts the postseason on April 17 in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals. The Blue Devils hold the No. 2 seed overall and will play at 12 p.m., in Cary, N.C. For complete tournament details, visit: www.theacc.com.

#5 Duke University 4, #7 Georgia Tech 3
Apr 11, 2009 at Durham, N.C. (Ambler Tennis Stadium)

Singles competition

1. #31 Mallory Cecil (DU) def. #7 Irina Falconi (GATECH) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2

2. #19 Amanda McDowell (GATECH) def. #28 Ellah Nze (DU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

3. #40 Reka Zsilinszka (DU) def. #54 Noelle Hickey (GATECH) 6-3, 6-0

4. #49 Christy Striplin (GATECH) def. #75 Amanda Granson (DU) 2-6, 6-4, retired

5. Melissa Mang (DU) def. Sasha Krupina (GATECH) 6-3, 6-2

6. Lynn Blau (GATECH) def. Jessi Robinson (DU) 6-3, 6-7, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. #18 Melissa Mang/Amanda Granson (DU) def. #31 Noelle Hickey/Christy Striplin (GATECH) 8-7 (7-3)

2. Mallory Cecil/Jessi Robinson (DU) def. Irina Falconi/Sasha Krupina (GATECH) 8-2

3. Ellah Nze/Reka Zsilinszka (DU) def. Amanda McDowell/Lynn Blau (GATECH) 8-4