Duke Women's Tennis Dominates Syracuse with Impressive 4-0 Victory
In Durham, the 19th-ranked Duke women's tennis team showcased their prowess with a commanding 4-0 win over Syracuse at the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center. This victory marked their 17th consecutive home win, pushing their overall season record to 8-2 and 2-0 in the ACC, while Syracuse fell to 4-5 and 0-2 in the conference.
Doubles Delight
Duke's doubles teams set the tone early. Irina Balus and Aspen Schuman quickly established dominance on court two, racing to a 5-0 lead before sealing a 6-1 victory against Serafima Shastova and Monika Wojcik. On court three, the duo of Liv Hovde and Ava Krug, pairing up for the first time this season, delivered a solid 6-2 win over Leena Bennetto and Constance Levivier, clinching the doubles point for the Blue Devils.
Meanwhile, Claire An and Eleana Yu faced a tough battle on court one against Syracuse's 20th-ranked Nelly Knezkova and Anastasia Sysoeva. The match was neck-and-neck at 3-3 when Duke secured the doubles point, leaving the contest unfinished.
Singles Success
Irina Balus continued her impressive form in singles, securing her third consecutive win with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Shastova. After a tight start, Balus took control, winning four consecutive games to capture the first set and maintaining her momentum in the second.
Rookie Aspen Schuman, hailing from Menlo Park, California, improved to 6-1 overall with a decisive 6-3, 6-2 victory against Wojcik. Despite an early setback in the second set, Schuman's resilience shone through as she swept the remaining games.
Claire An, a freshman from Boca Raton, Florida, clinched the overall victory for Duke with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-3 win on court five. An's determination was evident as she rebounded from a 5-4 deficit in the first set to capture three straight games and never looked back in the second.
In Progress
When the match concluded, Duke's Liv Hovde was leading Sysoeva 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 on court two. Eleana Yu was ahead of Bennetto 7-6 (7-3), 3-0 on court four, and senior Katie Codd was leading Levivier 6-2, 4-1.
Key Notes
Duke's home winning streak now ranks as the seventh-longest in program history. The Blue Devils boast a perfect 16-0 record against Syracuse and are just four wins away from 1,000 in program history. Balus has been on a tear, winning seven of her last eight matches, and Hovde remains formidable in ACC doubles play with a 12-1 record.
Coach's Corner
Head coach Jamie Ashworth praised the team's efficiency, emphasizing the importance of conserving energy for upcoming challenges. "Getting off the courts quickly was crucial as we prepare for a big weekend," he noted. Ashworth highlighted the significance of conference play, acknowledging the strength of the ACC this season.
Next Up
Duke will hit the road to face SMU on Friday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. Fans can stay updated by following "DukeWTEN" on social media.
Match Summary
- Doubles: Balus/Schuman def.
Shastova/Wojcik 6-1
- Hovde/Krug def.
Bennetto/Levivier 6-2
- An/Yu vs.
Knezkova/Sysoeva 3-3 unfinished
- Singles: Balus def.
Shastova 6-2, 6-3
- Schuman def.
Wojcik 6-3, 6-2
- An def.
Scaldalai 7-5, 6-3
- Hovde vs.
Sysoeva 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 unfinished
- Yu vs.
Bennetto 7-6 (7-3), 3-0 unfinished
- Codd vs.
Levivier 6-2, 4-1 unfinished
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