Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis versus ITA Regional Championship on October 17, 2025
Women's Tennis
vs ITA Regional Championship
Friday, September 25
Winston-Salem, N.C.
All Day
Duke University
vs
Day One
Duke Completes Day One of Wake Forest Invitational
9/25/2009 4:30:00 PM | Women's Tennis
DURHAM, N.C.-The Duke University women's tennis team officially kicked off its fall season today at the Wake Forest Fall Invitational. The Blue Devils went unbeaten in five singles matches and posted three wins in doubles action.
The day started with doubles play. The Blue Devils held the top two seeds in doubles with Ellah Nze and Reka Zsilinszka sitting in the top spot and Amanda Granson and Monica Gorny at No. 2.
Nze and Zsilinszka breezed past Richmond's Isabel Arana and Alexandra Smyth 8-1 in the opening match, while Granson and Gorny quickly dispatched Ali Gores and Teresa Wang of Davidson, 8-1.
Duke's top tandem continued its winning ways in the second match, beating Wake Forest's Kathryn Talbert and Emilee Malvehy 8-5 to earn a spot in the semifinals. The pair of Granson and Gorny dropped a tough 8-5 decision to Chelcie Abajian and Megan Fudge of Illinois in its second contest of the morning.
"It was a good start," Gorny said. "It was tough to get rid of the nerves at first and I didn't play the greatest tennis, but I got through it. I started to play the way I know I can and that was really good. Overall I thought it was really good for me and as a team."
The Blue Devils were equally impressive in singles action, winning all five of their matches. Zsilinszka cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Kelly Tidwell of Richmond and Nze moved on with a win by default.
Granson also wasted little time getting off the court with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Davidson's Virginia Berry.
The biggest win of the day for Duke came from the racquet of senior Elizabeth Plotkin. Playing in her first competitive match in nearly two years, the Blue Devil veteran shook off some early nerves to score a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 win over No. 42 Fudge of Illinois.
"It was one of the hardest things I've ever done," Plotkin said. "I just had to remind myself that for the past year-and-a-half I had been watching on the sidelines and now I had the chance to be playing again and I need to just enjoy it. Physically, I'm fine and I knew that would take care of itself. Mentally, I just tried to smile and enjoy every minute out there.
"For Liz to come back after missing almost two years and beat someone of her caliber says so much about her game both physically and mentally," head coach Jamie Ashworth said.
The second day of competition at the Wake Forest Invitational kicks off at 9 a.m., with doubles action.
-d-u-k-e-
Players Mentioned
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
PLAYER
/ Women's TennisEleana 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
