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Four Blue Devils Listed in Preseason ITA Singles Rankings
8/27/2025 11:15:00 AM | Women's Tennis
DURHAM, N.C. –The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) unveiled its preseason singles and doubles rankings this week, featuring four Duke women's tennis student-athletes in the singles and three doubles duos earning national recognition.
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Sophomore Irina Balus (14), junior Eleana Yu (42), sophomore Liv Hovde (49) and junior Shavit Kimchi (61) appeared in the singles rankings.
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In doubles, Duke also had three pairs make the listing — Balus/Hovde (2), Ava Krug/Yu (76) and Kimchi/Claire An (83).
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Balus was named the ITA Carolina Region Rookie of the Year last season, ranking as high as No. 8 in singles. Balus, a native of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, was one of only eight freshmen Blue Devils to be ranked in the top 10 nationally in singles. She ended the 2024-25 season with an impressive 17-11 overall singles record.
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In her first season with the Blue Devils in 2024-25, Yu had an impressive 19-9 record in singles and reached as high as No. 23 nationally in singles.Â
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Hovde joined the Duke squad in January of 2025 and registered three wins against ranked opponents while seeing action at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions. She collected six overall wins in her rookie season.Â
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Kimchi has logged 38 career singles wins and ranked as high as No. 38 nationally over her two years with the Blue Devils. She totaled a 21-11 mark in singles a season ago.Â
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Despite being a new doubles pair, Balus and Hovde earned a preseason No. 2 ranking. Hovde had an impressive 17-1 doubles ledger teaming with Duke graduate Emma Jackson a season ago. Balus competed with Blue Devil graduate Ellie Coleman in 2024-25, totaling 21 victories and advancing to the NCAA Doubles Championship.Â
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Four current Blue Devils were ranked in the final ITA singles ledger of the 2024-25 season -- Balus (26), Yu (71), Hovde (80) and Kimchi (97).
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To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's tennis, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWTEN". Â
#GoDuke
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Sophomore Irina Balus (14), junior Eleana Yu (42), sophomore Liv Hovde (49) and junior Shavit Kimchi (61) appeared in the singles rankings.
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In doubles, Duke also had three pairs make the listing — Balus/Hovde (2), Ava Krug/Yu (76) and Kimchi/Claire An (83).
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Balus was named the ITA Carolina Region Rookie of the Year last season, ranking as high as No. 8 in singles. Balus, a native of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, was one of only eight freshmen Blue Devils to be ranked in the top 10 nationally in singles. She ended the 2024-25 season with an impressive 17-11 overall singles record.
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In her first season with the Blue Devils in 2024-25, Yu had an impressive 19-9 record in singles and reached as high as No. 23 nationally in singles.Â
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Hovde joined the Duke squad in January of 2025 and registered three wins against ranked opponents while seeing action at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions. She collected six overall wins in her rookie season.Â
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Kimchi has logged 38 career singles wins and ranked as high as No. 38 nationally over her two years with the Blue Devils. She totaled a 21-11 mark in singles a season ago.Â
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Despite being a new doubles pair, Balus and Hovde earned a preseason No. 2 ranking. Hovde had an impressive 17-1 doubles ledger teaming with Duke graduate Emma Jackson a season ago. Balus competed with Blue Devil graduate Ellie Coleman in 2024-25, totaling 21 victories and advancing to the NCAA Doubles Championship.Â
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Four current Blue Devils were ranked in the final ITA singles ledger of the 2024-25 season -- Balus (26), Yu (71), Hovde (80) and Kimchi (97).
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To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's tennis, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWTEN". Â
#GoDuke
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Tennis
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/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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