Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis versus Iowa on January 19, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.
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9:30 a.m.
Women's Tennis
vs Iowa
Photo by: Todd Drexler
Women’s Tennis Tabbed No. 8 in ITA Preseason Ledger
1/7/2026 12:08:00 PM | Women's Tennis
DURHAM, N.C. – As Jamie Ashworth enters his 30th season as the head coach of the Duke women's tennis team, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) released its preseason national rankings Wednesday with Duke tabbed No. 8.
Ashworth has guided Duke to 21 top-10 preseason rankings in his 30 seasons as the head coach of the Blue Devils. Duke has been in the preseason top-16 nationally in each of the last 30 years under Ashworth.
Georgia enters the season ranked No. 1 nationally with Texas A&M, North Carolina, Auburn, LSU, Oklahoma, Michigan, Duke, Stanford and Oklahoma State rounding out the top 10. A total of six ACC teams were ranked nationally – North Carolina (3), Duke (8), Stanford (9), NC State (11), Virginia (14) and California (15).
Duke features four ranked singles players entering the season -- Irinia Balus (#22), Eleana Yu (#87), Shavit Kimchi (#93) and Liv Hovde (#98) – and three ranked doubles teams -- Kimchi/Hovde (#14), Hovde/Balus (#22) and Yu/Claire An (#32).
The Blue Devils return six student-athletes off their 2024-25 squad that advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament and won the ACC regular season title. Duke also welcomed freshman Aspen Schuman to the team in January along with An arriving in August.
Duke opens 2026 dual match action Monday, Jan. 19 as the Blue Devils host a doubleheader with Iowa and NCCU. The Iowa match will feature a first serve at 9:30 a.m., while the NCCU contest will start at 5 p.m. Both contests will be played in 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
Ashworth has guided Duke to 21 top-10 preseason rankings in his 30 seasons as the head coach of the Blue Devils. Duke has been in the preseason top-16 nationally in each of the last 30 years under Ashworth.
Georgia enters the season ranked No. 1 nationally with Texas A&M, North Carolina, Auburn, LSU, Oklahoma, Michigan, Duke, Stanford and Oklahoma State rounding out the top 10. A total of six ACC teams were ranked nationally – North Carolina (3), Duke (8), Stanford (9), NC State (11), Virginia (14) and California (15).
Duke features four ranked singles players entering the season -- Irinia Balus (#22), Eleana Yu (#87), Shavit Kimchi (#93) and Liv Hovde (#98) – and three ranked doubles teams -- Kimchi/Hovde (#14), Hovde/Balus (#22) and Yu/Claire An (#32).
The Blue Devils return six student-athletes off their 2024-25 squad that advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament and won the ACC regular season title. Duke also welcomed freshman Aspen Schuman to the team in January along with An arriving in August.
Duke opens 2026 dual match action Monday, Jan. 19 as the Blue Devils host a doubleheader with Iowa and NCCU. The Iowa match will feature a first serve at 9:30 a.m., while the NCCU contest will start at 5 p.m. Both contests will be played in 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
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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
