Blue Devils Ground Paladins, 7-0

Sunday, February 21

Durham, N.C.

12:00 p.m.

Duke University

Furman

Blue Devils Ground Paladins, 7-0

2/21/2010 3:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.-The Duke University women's tennis team continued its dominance at home this afternoon with a 7-0 victory over Furman University at Ambler Tennis Stadium. The sixth-ranked Blue Devils improved to 7-0 at home this season and have not lost a home match since March 23, 2008.

"One of the things we said today was that we didn't want to let them get into any match," head coach Jamie Ashworth said. "They have a history of being good and we knew they wouldn't be intimidated. So we wanted to come out and set a good tone with doubles and not let them feel like they could get any kind of confidence at all and we did a good job of that."

Duke got off to a quick start, winning the doubles point with matching 8-1 victories at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. The duo of senior Amanda Granson and freshman Mary Clayton were the first off the court at No. 3, while freshman Jessica Stiles and sophomore Monica Gorny cruised their way to the 8-1 win on court two to clinch the single point.

Looking for the sweep, the tandem of senior Elizabeth Plotkin and junior Reka Zsilinszka broke open a tight 3-2 contest with consecutive game wins to make it 5-2. The Blue Devils rolled the rest of the way to win 8-2.

In singles action, Clayton got off the court in a hurry with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Susan Bitetti in the No. 5 spot to make it 2-0 in favor of the Blue Devils. The win was Clayton's eighth of the season as she improves to 8-2 on the year.

Granson was next to come away with a win, outlasting her opponent 6-2, 6-1 from the No. 3 position.

Needing just one more victory to win the match, 63rd-ranked Gorny dominated Michele Stanford at No. 4 with a 6-3, 6-1 triumph. She moves to 6-2 in dual matches this season and is 8-2 in her last 10 matches.

Playing in the No. 1 spot for the second time this season, the 47th-ranked Plotkin finished off Monica Arguello 6-3, 6-2 to remain unbeaten at 10-0 on the year.

Meanwhile, on court six the rookie Stiles was in the middle of completing a monster comeback. Trailing 5-2 in the first set, Stiles won the next seven games to take the first set 7-5. She continued her run through the second set to come away with the 7-5, 6-2. She is unbeaten in her four matches this season.

"I kind of came out a little bit nervous," Stiles said. "I haven't played singles in a little while and I just came out a little tight and didn't have that much energy. Then I was talking to [Assistant Coach] Marc [Spicijaric] and I started getting pumped up and started to cheer on my teammates and get them going and then they started cheering me on. I think that was the sole thing that pulled me through."

Looking to complete the clean sweep, Zsilinszka breezed through the first set 6-1. The second set proved to be a slightly different story as Lauren Kline and Zsilinszka traded big shots. However, it was the 34th-ranked Blue Devil junior that came out on top with the 6-1, 6-4 for her sixth dual match win of the year.

Duke kicks off ACC play on Feb. 25 against local rival N.C. State. The match is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.

"One of the things that we always talk about is the history and tradition of our program was built on the success in the ACC," Ashworth said. "We'll sit down with them and make sure that they understand that and know that the stuff that this team and past teams is known for begins with the importance of the ACC."

#6 Duke 7, Furman 0
Feb 21, 2010 at Durham, N.C. (Ambler Tennis Stadium)

Singles competition

1. #47 Elizabeth Plotkin (DU) def. Monica Arguello (FURMAN) 6-3, 6-2

2. #34 Reka Zsilinszka (DU) def. Lauren Kline (FURMAN) 6-1, 6-4

3. #60 Amanda Granson (DU) def. Jessica Preeg (FURMAN) 6-2, 6-1

4. #73 Monica Gorny (DU) def. Michele Stanford (FURMAN) 6-3, 6-1

5. Mary Clayton (DU) def. Susan Bitetti (FURMAN) 6-1, 6-2

6. Jessica Stiles (DU) def. Jennifer Betts (FURMAN) 7-5, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. Reka Zsilinszka/Elizabeth Plotkin (DU) def. Jessica Preeg/Lauren Kline (FURMAN) 8-2

2. #28 Monica Gorny/Jessica Stiles (DU) def. Monica Arguello/Michele Stanford (FURMAN) 8-1

3. Amanda Granson/Mary Clayton (DU) def. Jennifer Betts/Olivia Maurice (FURMAN) 8-1