Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis at Kitty Harrison Invitational on September 12, 2025
Women's Tennis
at Kitty Harrison Invitational
Friday, January 24
Charlottesville, Va.
4:00 PM
Duke University
vs
South Carolina
Photo by: Bri Shaw, Duke Athletics
No. 7 Blue Devils Head to Charlottesville for ITA Kickoff Weekend
1/23/2025 11:20:00 AM | Women's Tennis
ITA Kickoff Weekend
#20 South Carolina (2-0) vs. #7 Duke (4-0)
Friday, Jan. 24 at 4:00 p.m.
Charlottesville, Va. (Boar's Head Sports Club)
Watch Live l Cracked Racquets Video l Live Scoring
ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship/Consolation
Duke (4-0) vs. New Mexico (0-0)/#5 Virginia (4-0)
Saturday, Jan. 25 at 3:30/6:30 p.m.
Charlottesville, Va. (Boar's Head Sports Club)
Watch Live l Cracked Racquets Video l Live Scoring
DURHAM, N.C. – Riding a four-match winning streak to open the 2025 dual match slate, the seventh-ranked Duke women's tennis team (4-0) heads to Charlottesville, Va., this week to compete in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Kickoff Weekend, which opens Friday, Jan. 24.
Seeing action in Charlottesville will be fifth-ranked Virginia (4-0), seventh-ranked Duke (4-0), 20th-ranked South Carolina (2-0) and New Mexico. The Cavaliers open play Friday, Jan. 24 at 1 p.m., against the Lobos, while the Gamecocks and Blue Devils hit the court at 4 p.m. The two winning teams will move on to play at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25 for a chance to advance to the ITA National Team Indoors. The losing teams will play at 6:30 p.m., Saturday.
The ITA Kickoff will feature Cracked Racquets Crosscourt coverage on Friday and Saturday.
The Series with South Carolina
Duke and South Carolina will meet for the 27th time in program history with the Blue Devils leading the series, 18-8. The Blue Devils have won nine-straight against the Gamecocks.
Scouting South Carolina
South Carolina currently boasts a 2-0 ledger with victories against Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina this past weekend. The Gamecocks are coming off totaling a 17-8 ledger a season ago, including an 8-5 mark in SEC action. South Carolina featured two players – Sarah Hamner and Kaitlyn Carnicella – in the NCAA Singles Championship this past fall.
In the ITA rankings, Sarah Hamner (17) and Kaitlyn Carnicella (39) listed in singles. Hamner/Carnicella are also ranked No. 41 in doubles.
Duke Versus the SEC
The Blue Devils hold a 57-41 record against the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Their last win against the SEC was in May of 2022, where they beat Georgia 4-1.
The Series with Virginia
Duke and Virginia have faced each other 73 times with the Blue Devils leading the series, 63-10. In matches played in Charlottesville, Va., Duke holds a record of 23-5. The Cavaliers have won four out of the last six meetings with the Blue Devils, including the last two contests in Charlottesville.
Scouting Virginia
Virginia currently features a 4-0 ledger on the season and is coming off totaling a 4-3 victory over sixth-ranked North Carolina earlier this week. Melodie Collard and Elaine Chervinsky won the NCAA Doubles Championship in the fall, the first NCAA Doubles title in program history.
In the ITA rankings, Annabelle Xu (32), Elaine Chervinsky (34), Sara Ziodato (51), Melodie Collard (59), and Martina Genis Salas (94) are listed in singles. Chervinsky/Collard are No. 2 in doubles, while Genis Salas/Xu (27), Ziodato/Margaret Navarro (55) and Navarro/Zara Larke (75) are also ranked.
The Series with New Mexico
Duke and New Mexico have never met in program history.
Scouting New Mexico
New Mexico will open the 2025 spring slate Friday against Virginia. The Lobos are coming off posting a 19-3 ledger a season ago.
Duke Versus the Mountain West Conference
The Blue Devils hold an undefeated 6-0 record against Mountain West Conference opponents – Fresno State (2-0) and UNLV (4-0).
What is Next
Duke returns home to Durham to host Ohio State on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 11 a.m., inside the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center.
Duke in the ITA Kickoff
The Blue Devils feature a 27-3 ledger in action in the ITA Kickoff Weekend over the history of the program. The three losses came in 2021 (Georgia Tech), 2022 (Oklahoma) and 2024 (Auburn) in Durham. Duke has never faced Virginia, South Carolina or New Mexico in the ITA Kickoff.
Duke will be looking to advance to the ITA National Team Indoors for the 32nd time in school history. The Blue Devils won the event in 2003 and 2014.
ITA Rankings
In the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, Duke has moved up to No. 7 nationally.
Duke head coach Jamie Ashworth has now led the Blue Devils into the top 10 of the ITA rankings in 21 out of the last 23 years.
In the final fall singles rankings, Duke boasted four ranked student-athletes in singles -- Emma Jackson (25), Eleana Yu (30), Irina Balus (36) and Shavit Kimchi (49) – along with two ranked doubles teams – Ellie Coleman and Balus (10) along with Jackson and Yu (71).
Duke will be consistently tested this season as nine upcoming opponents are currently nationally ranked – Stanford (3), Virginia (5), Michigan (8), North Carolina (9), NC State (10), California (14), Ohio State (15), South Carolina (20) and Florida State (24).
New Additions, Big Impact
The Blue Devils brought in three newcomers in the fall and all three have made a big impact on the success of the squad. Irina Balus (7-2), Eleana Yu (7-3) and Ava Krug (5-2) combined to total a 19-7 singles ledger and 16-7 doubles mark. Both Balus and Krug are freshmen, while Yu is a sophomore who spent the previous season at Stanford.
Ashworth Adds Liv Hovde for Spring
Head coach Jamie Ashworth added 2022 Wimbledon girls' singles champion Liv Hovde to the roster on Dec. 23 heading into the spring season. A native of St. Paul, Minn., Hovde is a former No. 1 recruit nationally, while featuring an Intercollegiate Tennis Federation (ITF) career-high ranking of No. 3 and a Women's Tennis Association (WTA) career-high rankings of No. 245 in singles and No. 354 in doubles. Hovde also owns seven ITF titles.
Balus & Coleman Earn All-America Accolades
With the tandem of Irina Balus and Ellie Coleman advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Championship in Waco, Texas this past November, the Blue Devil duo earned All-America accolades.
Duke's doubles team of Balus and Coleman registered two wins during the championship, starting with a 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6) victory over 23rd-ranked Elza Tomase and Catherine Aulia of Tennessee. In the round of 16, Balus and Coleman posted a 7-5, 6-3 win against 20th-ranked Lily Fairclough and Grace Piper of Southern California. The Blue Devil run came to an end in the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-1 defeat to Rachel Gailis and Alicia Dudeney of Florida.
Balus and Coleman finished the fall with a 9-2 ledger. Their appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals was the first for Duke since 2018 and they were just the 11th doubles tandem in program history to reach the quarterfinals.
Balus became the seventh Blue Devil to earn NCAA Doubles All-America accolades – Karolina Berankova (2021), Kelly Chen (2018), Tory Zawacki (2004), Kelly McCain (2002), Karin Miller (1997) and Vanessa Webb (1996).
The Head Coach
Head coach Jamie Ashworth is in his 29th season with the Blue Devils and owns an impressive 616-158 ledger. Last season, Ashworth registered his 600th victory on Jan. 20 in a 4-2 win over Illinois. He accomplished this mark in only 747 matches becoming the quickest coach to 600 wins.
Quickest to 600 Wins – 747 games by Jamie Ashworth (Duke), 749 by Jeff Wallace (Georgia), 779 by Brian Kalbas (William & Mary/North Carolina), and 785 by Lin Loring (UC Santa Barbara/Indiana).
Ashworth became the seventh NCAA Division I coach to reach the 600-win ledger – Loring (846), Wallace (818), Kalbas (748), Jay Louderback (703), Geoff MacDonald (631), Gualberto Escudero (Pepperdine) and Ashworth (600).
Among the winningest coaches of all time, Ashworth ranks 11th with a 79.7 winning percentage, seventh with 616 wins, fourth for winningest active coaches by percentage (79.7) and second for winningest active coaches by victories.
Big Sets for Little Hearts
The Duke men's and women's tennis programs announced a partnership with the Duke Children's Hospital Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center called Big Sets for Little Hearts this past fall.
Big Sets for Little Hearts pledges will be made based on the number of sets won by the men's and women's tennis programs. Last year, both tennis teams combined for 647 sets won.
If you are interested in supporting Blue Devil tennis' partnership with Duke Children's, you can pledge for each set won during the season or make a one-time donation. Pledges start at $0.10, $0.50, $1.00 and $2.50. Based on last year's results, the smallest pledged donation would be equal to $64.70. For more information or to donate, click here.
The Duke Children's Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center is the No. 2 ranked pediatric cardiology and heart surgery program in the United States for newborns and children with congenital and acquired heart disease. The Duke Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center strives to improve their patients' outcomes and the quality of their lives.
Noting the Blue Devils
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's tennis, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWTEN".
#GoDuke
#20 South Carolina (2-0) vs. #7 Duke (4-0)
Friday, Jan. 24 at 4:00 p.m.
Charlottesville, Va. (Boar's Head Sports Club)
Watch Live l Cracked Racquets Video l Live Scoring
ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship/Consolation
Duke (4-0) vs. New Mexico (0-0)/#5 Virginia (4-0)
Saturday, Jan. 25 at 3:30/6:30 p.m.
Charlottesville, Va. (Boar's Head Sports Club)
Watch Live l Cracked Racquets Video l Live Scoring
DURHAM, N.C. – Riding a four-match winning streak to open the 2025 dual match slate, the seventh-ranked Duke women's tennis team (4-0) heads to Charlottesville, Va., this week to compete in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Kickoff Weekend, which opens Friday, Jan. 24.
Seeing action in Charlottesville will be fifth-ranked Virginia (4-0), seventh-ranked Duke (4-0), 20th-ranked South Carolina (2-0) and New Mexico. The Cavaliers open play Friday, Jan. 24 at 1 p.m., against the Lobos, while the Gamecocks and Blue Devils hit the court at 4 p.m. The two winning teams will move on to play at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25 for a chance to advance to the ITA National Team Indoors. The losing teams will play at 6:30 p.m., Saturday.
The ITA Kickoff will feature Cracked Racquets Crosscourt coverage on Friday and Saturday.
The Series with South Carolina
Duke and South Carolina will meet for the 27th time in program history with the Blue Devils leading the series, 18-8. The Blue Devils have won nine-straight against the Gamecocks.
Scouting South Carolina
South Carolina currently boasts a 2-0 ledger with victories against Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina this past weekend. The Gamecocks are coming off totaling a 17-8 ledger a season ago, including an 8-5 mark in SEC action. South Carolina featured two players – Sarah Hamner and Kaitlyn Carnicella – in the NCAA Singles Championship this past fall.
In the ITA rankings, Sarah Hamner (17) and Kaitlyn Carnicella (39) listed in singles. Hamner/Carnicella are also ranked No. 41 in doubles.
Duke Versus the SEC
The Blue Devils hold a 57-41 record against the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Their last win against the SEC was in May of 2022, where they beat Georgia 4-1.
The Series with Virginia
Duke and Virginia have faced each other 73 times with the Blue Devils leading the series, 63-10. In matches played in Charlottesville, Va., Duke holds a record of 23-5. The Cavaliers have won four out of the last six meetings with the Blue Devils, including the last two contests in Charlottesville.
Scouting Virginia
Virginia currently features a 4-0 ledger on the season and is coming off totaling a 4-3 victory over sixth-ranked North Carolina earlier this week. Melodie Collard and Elaine Chervinsky won the NCAA Doubles Championship in the fall, the first NCAA Doubles title in program history.
In the ITA rankings, Annabelle Xu (32), Elaine Chervinsky (34), Sara Ziodato (51), Melodie Collard (59), and Martina Genis Salas (94) are listed in singles. Chervinsky/Collard are No. 2 in doubles, while Genis Salas/Xu (27), Ziodato/Margaret Navarro (55) and Navarro/Zara Larke (75) are also ranked.
The Series with New Mexico
Duke and New Mexico have never met in program history.
Scouting New Mexico
New Mexico will open the 2025 spring slate Friday against Virginia. The Lobos are coming off posting a 19-3 ledger a season ago.
Duke Versus the Mountain West Conference
The Blue Devils hold an undefeated 6-0 record against Mountain West Conference opponents – Fresno State (2-0) and UNLV (4-0).
What is Next
Duke returns home to Durham to host Ohio State on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 11 a.m., inside the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center.
Duke in the ITA Kickoff
The Blue Devils feature a 27-3 ledger in action in the ITA Kickoff Weekend over the history of the program. The three losses came in 2021 (Georgia Tech), 2022 (Oklahoma) and 2024 (Auburn) in Durham. Duke has never faced Virginia, South Carolina or New Mexico in the ITA Kickoff.
Duke will be looking to advance to the ITA National Team Indoors for the 32nd time in school history. The Blue Devils won the event in 2003 and 2014.
ITA Rankings
In the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, Duke has moved up to No. 7 nationally.
Duke head coach Jamie Ashworth has now led the Blue Devils into the top 10 of the ITA rankings in 21 out of the last 23 years.
In the final fall singles rankings, Duke boasted four ranked student-athletes in singles -- Emma Jackson (25), Eleana Yu (30), Irina Balus (36) and Shavit Kimchi (49) – along with two ranked doubles teams – Ellie Coleman and Balus (10) along with Jackson and Yu (71).
Duke will be consistently tested this season as nine upcoming opponents are currently nationally ranked – Stanford (3), Virginia (5), Michigan (8), North Carolina (9), NC State (10), California (14), Ohio State (15), South Carolina (20) and Florida State (24).
New Additions, Big Impact
The Blue Devils brought in three newcomers in the fall and all three have made a big impact on the success of the squad. Irina Balus (7-2), Eleana Yu (7-3) and Ava Krug (5-2) combined to total a 19-7 singles ledger and 16-7 doubles mark. Both Balus and Krug are freshmen, while Yu is a sophomore who spent the previous season at Stanford.
Ashworth Adds Liv Hovde for Spring
Head coach Jamie Ashworth added 2022 Wimbledon girls' singles champion Liv Hovde to the roster on Dec. 23 heading into the spring season. A native of St. Paul, Minn., Hovde is a former No. 1 recruit nationally, while featuring an Intercollegiate Tennis Federation (ITF) career-high ranking of No. 3 and a Women's Tennis Association (WTA) career-high rankings of No. 245 in singles and No. 354 in doubles. Hovde also owns seven ITF titles.
Balus & Coleman Earn All-America Accolades
With the tandem of Irina Balus and Ellie Coleman advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Championship in Waco, Texas this past November, the Blue Devil duo earned All-America accolades.
Duke's doubles team of Balus and Coleman registered two wins during the championship, starting with a 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6) victory over 23rd-ranked Elza Tomase and Catherine Aulia of Tennessee. In the round of 16, Balus and Coleman posted a 7-5, 6-3 win against 20th-ranked Lily Fairclough and Grace Piper of Southern California. The Blue Devil run came to an end in the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-1 defeat to Rachel Gailis and Alicia Dudeney of Florida.
Balus and Coleman finished the fall with a 9-2 ledger. Their appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals was the first for Duke since 2018 and they were just the 11th doubles tandem in program history to reach the quarterfinals.
Balus became the seventh Blue Devil to earn NCAA Doubles All-America accolades – Karolina Berankova (2021), Kelly Chen (2018), Tory Zawacki (2004), Kelly McCain (2002), Karin Miller (1997) and Vanessa Webb (1996).
The Head Coach
Head coach Jamie Ashworth is in his 29th season with the Blue Devils and owns an impressive 616-158 ledger. Last season, Ashworth registered his 600th victory on Jan. 20 in a 4-2 win over Illinois. He accomplished this mark in only 747 matches becoming the quickest coach to 600 wins.
Quickest to 600 Wins – 747 games by Jamie Ashworth (Duke), 749 by Jeff Wallace (Georgia), 779 by Brian Kalbas (William & Mary/North Carolina), and 785 by Lin Loring (UC Santa Barbara/Indiana).
Ashworth became the seventh NCAA Division I coach to reach the 600-win ledger – Loring (846), Wallace (818), Kalbas (748), Jay Louderback (703), Geoff MacDonald (631), Gualberto Escudero (Pepperdine) and Ashworth (600).
Among the winningest coaches of all time, Ashworth ranks 11th with a 79.7 winning percentage, seventh with 616 wins, fourth for winningest active coaches by percentage (79.7) and second for winningest active coaches by victories.
Big Sets for Little Hearts
The Duke men's and women's tennis programs announced a partnership with the Duke Children's Hospital Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center called Big Sets for Little Hearts this past fall.
Big Sets for Little Hearts pledges will be made based on the number of sets won by the men's and women's tennis programs. Last year, both tennis teams combined for 647 sets won.
If you are interested in supporting Blue Devil tennis' partnership with Duke Children's, you can pledge for each set won during the season or make a one-time donation. Pledges start at $0.10, $0.50, $1.00 and $2.50. Based on last year's results, the smallest pledged donation would be equal to $64.70. For more information or to donate, click here.
The Duke Children's Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center is the No. 2 ranked pediatric cardiology and heart surgery program in the United States for newborns and children with congenital and acquired heart disease. The Duke Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center strives to improve their patients' outcomes and the quality of their lives.
Noting the Blue Devils
- Duke freshman Ava Krug will have a couple of familiar faces around Durham this season as her brothers, Jake and Connor, are seniors on the Blue Devil men's tennis team.
- The Blue Devils have won 61 out of the last 62 matches when winning the doubles point. Duke had won 47 in a row, before a defeat in the NCAA Tournament second round last season to UCLA.
- Duke has featured a stellar home court advantage over the years and have boasted a 111-5 ledger over the last 18 years.Since opening the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center, the Blue Devils have posted a 142-9 record over 25 years.
- With the victory over No. 10 Pepperdine, Duke is now 8-4 against top 10 opponents in the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center and winners of five in a row.Overall, the Blue Devils are now 23-9 against top 10 opponents at home since 1999.
- To start the 2025 regular season, the Blue Devils feature a 15-3 dual match ledger in singles with Irina Balus, Shavit Kimchi and Ava Krug leading the way with 3-0 marks.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's tennis, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWTEN".
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
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Eleana Yu Post Match vs. Auburn
Saturday, May 10
Jame Ashworth Post Match vs. Auburn
Saturday, May 10
Ellie Coleman Post Match vs. FAU
Saturday, May 03
Jamie Ashworth Post Match vs. FAU
Saturday, May 03
