DURHAM, N.C. – Behind another dominant 4-0 victory over Tulsa, the fifth-ranked Duke women's tennis team advanced to 2020 ITA National Team Indoor Championship Sunday in Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center.
With the win, the Blue Devils remain undefeated in the early season (4-0) as the Golden Hurricane drops to 6-1 on the season.
"The weekend was obviously great for us," head coach
Jamie Ashworth said. "To be one of 16 teams going to Chicago for the National Team Indoors is something that we set out to do at the start of the year and the start of the weekend. I'm really proud of how we competed, especially in singles on both days. We came out and established ourselves as the better team on the court. That's something to be proud of and know that no matter how our doubles goes, even though we won the doubles point today, we can come out and put our foot down and be a good singles team."
For the fourth time this season, the Blue Devils collected the doubles point with wins on courts two and three. It was senior
Meible Chi and junior
Hannah Zhao who were first off for Duke on court three with a fast 6-0 win over Elodie Foster/Shura Poppe. Tulsa answered as No. 40 Martina Okalova/Vera Ploner defeated rookie
Chloe Beck and junior
Kelly Chen (7-5) on court one.
The doubles point came down to sophomore
Margaryta Bilokin and freshman
Yasmine Mansouri's 7-5 victory on court two over Laia Conde Monfort/Megan Hopton.
In singles action, freshman Beck was once again the first to get off the court for the Blue Devils. Beck, who is tabbed No. 25 by the ITA, defeated Lian Benedejcic (6-1, 6-2) on Duke's fifth court for her fourth win this season. Beck has lost just seven games through four matches.
Fellow rookie Mansouri was right behind Beck on court two. The Tunis, Tunisia native took down Poppe (6-0, 6-3) before Bilokin clinched the match to send the Blue Devils to Chicago for the 2020 ITA National Team Indoor Championship.
Bilokin, ranked No. 67 by the ITA, defeated Ploner (6-4, 6-1) on court three for her fourth victory of the season.
"We want to keep getting better. I thought today we were better than yesterday and we will keep getting better," Ashworth said. "Our expectations of our opponents has been raised a bit and that's something we want. We want teams to play well against us. We want to be challenged and pushed. Win or lose, that's what will help us become a better team come April and May."
Before ITA National Team Indoors begin in February, the Blue Devils will return to action Friday, Jan. 31 to take on No. 25 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio.
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Tennis Match Results
Tulsa vs #5 Duke
1/26/2020 at Durham, N.C.
(Sheffield Indoor Stadium)
#5 #5 Duke 4, Tulsa 0
Singles competition
1. #10
Kelly Chen (DU) vs. #52 Martina Okalova (TLS-W) 6-2, 4-2, unfinished
2.
Yasmine Mansouri (DU) def. Shura Poppe (TLS-W) 6-0, 6-3
3. #67
Margaryta Bilokin (DU) def. Vera Ploner (TLS-W) 6-4, 6-1
4. #77
Meible Chi (DU) vs. Laia Conde Monfort (TLS-W) 4-6, 4-3, unfinished
5. #25
Chloe Beck (DU) def. Lian Benedejcic (TLS-W) 6-1, 6-2
6.
Hannah Zhao (DU) vs. Marina Davtyan (TLS-W) 6-4, 4-0, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #40 Martina Okalova/Vera Ploner (TLS-W) def.
Chloe Beck/
Kelly Chen (DU) 7-5
2.
Margaryta Bilokin/
Yasmine Mansouri (DU) def. Laia Conde Monfort/Megan Hopton (TLS-W) 7-5
3.
Meible Chi/
Hannah Zhao (DU) def. Elodie Foster/Shura Poppe (TLS-W) 6-0
Match Notes:
Tulsa 6-1
#5 Duke 4-0; National ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,2,3)