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Balus Moves to No. 13 in Latest ITA Rankings
3/4/2026 8:40:00 AM | Women's Tennis
DURHAM, N.C. – Following a pair of top-15 ranked wins over the last three weeks, Duke women's tennis sophomore Irina Balus moved to No. 13 nationally in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings released this week. As a team, the Blue Devils featured four ranked singles players and three ranked doubles teams.
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In singles action, Duke had Balus (#13), Eleana Yu (#101), Aspen Schuman (#107) and Liv Hovde (#114) in the rankings. Three Blue Devil doubles teams were also ranked – Hovde/Shavit Kimchi (#13), Hovde/Balus (#33) and Yu/Claire An (#61).
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Balus, a native of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, is currently riding a four-match winning streak and has won eight out of her last nine singles matches to collect a 13-6 ledger on the season. She recently defeated No. 2 ranked Carmen Andreea Herea of Texas in three sets and knocked off Michigan's 12th-ranked Piper Charney in straight sets. Her win against the second-ranked player marked just the 20th win in program history over a player ranked No. 2 or higher nationally.Â
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Riding a four-match winning streak, Yu is 5-1 on the season in dual match action. Yu, who is from Mason, Ohio, is coming off her second ranked win of the season with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory over 85th-ranked Jessica Bernales of Michigan. She owns a 40-17 career singles mark.Â
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Hovde has collected 10 wins on the season in singles play and totaled a 6-4, 6-4 victory over South Carolina's 54th-ranked Kaitlyn Carnicella as a recent ranked win for the sophomore from Daniel Island, South Carolina.Â
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A product of Menlo Park, California, Schuman joined the Blue Devils in January and has made an immediate impact totaling a 7-2 singles mark. She defeated 52nd-ranked Nao Nishino of Ohio State at the National Team Indoors for her first collegiate ranked victory.Â
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In doubles, Kimchi and Hovde have registered a 10-5 record on the season with three wins against ranked opponents. Hovde/Balus totaled a 2-0 ledger together in the fall and knocked off the ninth-ranked team from Virginia at the Kitty Harrison Invitational. An and Yu have totaled an 8-4 record together and have won four out of their last six matches.Â
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As a team, the Blue Devils remained No. 20 nationally.Â
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Duke will be off this weekend before returning to action Friday, March 13 as the Blue Devils host Louisville at 5 p.m.
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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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In singles action, Duke had Balus (#13), Eleana Yu (#101), Aspen Schuman (#107) and Liv Hovde (#114) in the rankings. Three Blue Devil doubles teams were also ranked – Hovde/Shavit Kimchi (#13), Hovde/Balus (#33) and Yu/Claire An (#61).
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Balus, a native of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, is currently riding a four-match winning streak and has won eight out of her last nine singles matches to collect a 13-6 ledger on the season. She recently defeated No. 2 ranked Carmen Andreea Herea of Texas in three sets and knocked off Michigan's 12th-ranked Piper Charney in straight sets. Her win against the second-ranked player marked just the 20th win in program history over a player ranked No. 2 or higher nationally.Â
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Riding a four-match winning streak, Yu is 5-1 on the season in dual match action. Yu, who is from Mason, Ohio, is coming off her second ranked win of the season with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory over 85th-ranked Jessica Bernales of Michigan. She owns a 40-17 career singles mark.Â
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Hovde has collected 10 wins on the season in singles play and totaled a 6-4, 6-4 victory over South Carolina's 54th-ranked Kaitlyn Carnicella as a recent ranked win for the sophomore from Daniel Island, South Carolina.Â
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A product of Menlo Park, California, Schuman joined the Blue Devils in January and has made an immediate impact totaling a 7-2 singles mark. She defeated 52nd-ranked Nao Nishino of Ohio State at the National Team Indoors for her first collegiate ranked victory.Â
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In doubles, Kimchi and Hovde have registered a 10-5 record on the season with three wins against ranked opponents. Hovde/Balus totaled a 2-0 ledger together in the fall and knocked off the ninth-ranked team from Virginia at the Kitty Harrison Invitational. An and Yu have totaled an 8-4 record together and have won four out of their last six matches.Â
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As a team, the Blue Devils remained No. 20 nationally.Â
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Duke will be off this weekend before returning to action Friday, March 13 as the Blue Devils host Louisville at 5 p.m.
Â
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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Aspen Schuman Post Match vs. South Carolina
Monday, January 26
Jamie Ashworth Post Match vs. South Carolina
Monday, January 26
Eleana Yu Post Match vs. Auburn
Saturday, May 10
Jame Ashworth Post Match vs. Auburn
Saturday, May 10
