Completed Event: Women's Tennis at #1 Auburn on May 8, 2026 , Loss , 2, to, 4
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Final
Women's Tennis
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at #1 Auburn
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Photo by: Bri Shaw, Duke Athletics
Balus Earns ACC Freshman of the Week Accolades
1/28/2025 2:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke women's tennis freshman Irina Balus has been selected as the ACC Freshman of the Week, after totaling a 3-0 ledger in singles action this past week for the Blue Devils.
Balus, who hails from Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, collected a 3-0 ledger in singles with all three wins coming against ranked opponents. Playing at the No. 1 singles slot, Balus opened the week with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over 21st-ranked Ozlem Uslu of Virginia Tech on Monday and then was leading Alejandra Hidalgo of N.C. Central, 6-2, 4-1, before the match was clinched to close the day.
In the ITA Kickoff Weekend in Charlottesville, Balus posted a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory against 17th-ranked Sarah Hamner of South Carolina and then totaled a 6-4, 6-1 win against 32nd-ranked Annabelle Xu of Virginia.
Currently ranked No. 36 nationally, Balus also totaled a 2-1 ledger in doubles play with the lone loss coming to the second-ranked team nationally at Virginia. She teamed with Ellie Coleman to defeat Virginia Tech and South Carolina during the week.
Balus has been very impressive so far during her rookie campaign registering a 12-2 overall and 5-0 dual match ledger with six of those wins coming against ranked foes. She has also collected an 11-5 mark in doubles play. Balus competed in both the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championship in the fall and earned All-America accolades along the way in doubles.
Seventh-ranked Duke (5-1) next hosts Ohio State on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 11 a.m., inside the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's tennis, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWTEN".
#GoDuke
Balus, who hails from Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, collected a 3-0 ledger in singles with all three wins coming against ranked opponents. Playing at the No. 1 singles slot, Balus opened the week with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over 21st-ranked Ozlem Uslu of Virginia Tech on Monday and then was leading Alejandra Hidalgo of N.C. Central, 6-2, 4-1, before the match was clinched to close the day.
In the ITA Kickoff Weekend in Charlottesville, Balus posted a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory against 17th-ranked Sarah Hamner of South Carolina and then totaled a 6-4, 6-1 win against 32nd-ranked Annabelle Xu of Virginia.
Currently ranked No. 36 nationally, Balus also totaled a 2-1 ledger in doubles play with the lone loss coming to the second-ranked team nationally at Virginia. She teamed with Ellie Coleman to defeat Virginia Tech and South Carolina during the week.
Balus has been very impressive so far during her rookie campaign registering a 12-2 overall and 5-0 dual match ledger with six of those wins coming against ranked foes. She has also collected an 11-5 mark in doubles play. Balus competed in both the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championship in the fall and earned All-America accolades along the way in doubles.
Seventh-ranked Duke (5-1) next hosts Ohio State on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 11 a.m., inside the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's tennis, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWTEN".
#GoDuke
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/ Women's Tennis
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