Ashworth Garners 300th Career Win

Thursday, February 25

Durham, N.C.

4:00 PM

Duke University

NC State

Ashworth Garners 300th Career Win

2/25/2010 8:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. -Duke University women's tennis head coach Jamie Ashworth captured his 300th career victory as the sixth-ranked Blue Devils cruised to a 7-0 win over ACC foe N.C. State this evening at the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center. Ashworth is the winningest active coach in the ACC with a career mark of 300-69.

"It's a great accomplishment," Ashworth said. "It says a lot about the players we've had here and the people here and the support staff to - first off to be able to coach here [as long as I have], but also the quality of individuals I've been able to recruit who have come here and competed hard on a daily basis."

In doubles play, senior Elizabeth Plotkin and junior Reka Zsilinszka led the Blue Devils off the court at the No. 2 spot. The 24th-ranked tandem surrendered an early lead to N.C. State's Diana Mortlock and Ashley Miller, but won four straight points on their way to an 8-4 victory. The pair of junior Ellah Nze and senior Amanda Granson followed, cruising to an 8-1 win on court one to seal the doubles point for Duke.

At No. 3 doubles, the Wolfpack's Lenka Hojckova and Tana Illova jumped out to a 2-6 lead over sophomore Monica Gorny and freshman Jessica Stiles. The 28th-ranked pair from Duke fought back to force a tiebreaker, but eventually fell to N.C. State, 8-7 (3).

Rookie Mary Clayton got the singles play off to a strong start as she cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 win in the No. 5 spot for her ninth win of the season and a 2-0 advantage for the Blue Devils. Moments later it was senior Amanda Granson getting off court four with a quick 6-1, 6-2 win over Illova. The win is Granson's 96th singles victory and 25th ACC singles win of her career.

For the second time in the past three games it was Plotkin clinching the match for the Blue Devils with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Hojckova on court two. The 47th-ranked Plotkin remains unbeaten on the season at 11-0 to lead all Blue Devils in dual matches.

"Liz is in the mindset now that she's not going to lose a match," Ashworth said. "She honestly believes when she walks on the court that she's not going to lose. She may get beat, but she's not going to give up points and actually lose a match. It's great to see, especially with the history she's had."

Looking to continue the sweep, Stiles closed out her match at No. 6 with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Diana Mortlock. Meanwhile on court one, Nze was mounting a monster second-set comeback. After battling to a 6-4 win in the first set, Nze fell behind 5-1 in the second. Looking like she was headed to a three-set match, the native of Tampa, Fla., won the next six games to take the match 6-4, 7-5.

"The first two games in the second set were really close and could have gone either way and after that she just got into a rhythm," Nze said. "Being down 5-1 is obviously tough, but I've come back before against other great players and also looking over and seeing Liz [Plotkin] and clinch the win gave me a little confidence."

On court three, 34th-ranked Zsilinszka completed the sweep as she outlasted Berkeley Brock 6-4, 6-2 for her 98th career singles victory and 21st ACC dual match win.

The Blue Devils will face a tough road test next as they travel down to Gainesville, Fla., to take on ninth-ranked Florida at 4 p.m.

"We have to be ready to compete at every spot, every game, every set," Ashworth said of the upcoming match at Florida. "It's going to be a tough match. That's one of the programs that you always compare yourself to. It will be a great atmosphere."

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