Duke Drops Tar Heels To Advance To ACC Championship Match

Saturday, April 18

Cary, N.C.

1 p.m.

Duke University

North Carolina

Duke Drops Tar Heels To Advance To ACC Championship Match

4/18/2009 7:15:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

CARY, N.C.?The Duke University women's tennis team earned a spot in the ACC Tournament Championship match today with a 4-2 victory over North Carolina in the second semifinal of the day at the Cary Tennis Park. The second-seeded Blue Devils will take on top-seeded Miami in the title match on April 19, at 11 a.m.

"I thought we played a good match," head coach Jamie Ashworth said. "They are always excited to play North Carolina and we came out today and played well in doubles and had great energy for the entire match."

Ranked third in the nation, Duke (22-3) pushed its win streak to 11 matches with the victory over the No. 21 Tar Heels. The Blue Devils will face Miami for a chance to capture the program's 16th ACC Tournament title. The Hurricanes handed Duke its only ACC loss, 5-2, in Miami on March 22. Miami advanced to the championship tilt with a 4-0 win over Florida State.

Opposite in the regular season meeting, Duke came away with the doubles point, getting wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. The Tar Heels swept the Blue Devils 3-0 in doubles earlier in the year. Duke has not lost the doubles point since that match-up on April 1, riding a seven-match win streak.

The dynamic duo of sophomores Reka Zsilinszka and Ellah Nze were the first off the court, cruising past Laura Reichert and Meg Fanjoy 8-1. They are 22-3 overall in dual matches this season.

Rookie Mallory Cecil and senior Jessi Robinson clinched the crucial point as they edged No. 61 Katrina Tsang and Austin Smith 8-6 in the No. 2 spot. Recently climbing to the No. 73 spot in the poll, the Duke tandem is 18-6 since joining forces in January.

Sporting the 1-0 lead, Duke made 3-0 with wins from Zsilinszka and Cecil. Zsilinszka carried her momentum from doubles to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Smith at the No. 3 slot. The win was the Fayetteville, N.C. native's 33rd of the year. Cecil grabbed a crucial victory from No. 1, defeating No. 23 Sanaz Marand. Ranked 16th nationally, Cecil's last loss came against Julia Cohen of Miami.

North Carolina (18-10) jumped right back into the match as they came away with wins on court six and court four. Reichert dropped Robinson 6-2, 6-3, while Sophie Grabinski earned a 7-6 (7), 6-0 victory over Amanda Granson.

Needing just one more point for the team victory, the 33rd-ranked Nze pulled out a 7-5, 6-3 win over Tsang at No. 2 to launch Duke into the championship. She improves to 27-10 on the year and 18-6 in dual matches.

Senior Melissa Mang did not finish either her singles or doubles matches as the contest was played to decision.

"One of the best things I thought was that we matched [North Carolina's] energy," Ashworth said. "UNC had nothing to lose. They came out in singles with a lot of emotion and energy and we matched that and I'm proud that they could do that."

For all the information on the ACC Tournament, click here.

#3 Duke University 4, #21 University of North Carolina 2
Apr 18, 2009 at Cary, N.C. (Cary Tennis Park)

Singles competition

1. #16 Mallory Cecil (DU) def. #23 Sanaz Marand (UNC) 6-4, 6-1

2. #33 Ellah Nze (DU) def. #62 Katrina Tsang (UNC) 7-5, 6-3

3. #39 Reka Zsilinszka (DU) def. Austin Smith (UNC) 6-1, 6-1

4. #102 Sophie Grabinski (UNC) def. #74 Amanda Granson (DU) 7-6 (9-7), 6-0

5. #115 Melissa Mang (DU) vs. Jelena Durisic (UNC) 5-7, 4-5, unfinished

6. Laura Reichert (UNC) def. Jessi Robinson (DU) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. #16 Amanda Granson/Melissa Mang (DU) vs. #3 Sanaz Marand/Sophie Grabinski (UNC) 6-7, unfinished

2. #73 Mallory Cecil/Jessi Robinson (DU) def. #61 Katrina Tsang/Austin Smith (UNC) 8-6